Polypeptide-based shuttle agents for improving the transduction efficiency of polypeptide cargos to the cytosol of target eukaryotic cells, uses thereof, methods and kits relating to same

ABSTRACT

The present description relates to synthetic peptides useful for increasing the transduction efficiency of polypeptide cargos to the cytosol of target eukaryotic cells. More specifically, the present description relates to synthetic peptides and polypeptide-based shuttle agents comprising an endosome leakage domain (ELD) operably linked to a cell penetrating domain (CPD), or an ELD operably linked to a histidine-rich domain and a CPD. Compositions, kits, methods and uses relating to same are also described.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C section 119 from Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/145,760, filed Apr. 10, 2015 and Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/246,892 filed Oct. 27, 2015, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The present description relates to synthetic peptides useful for increasing the transduction efficiency of polypeptide cargos to the cytosol of target eukaryotic cells. More specifically, the present description relates to synthetic peptides and polypeptide-based shuttle agents comprising an endosome leakage domain (ELD) operably linked to a cell penetrating domain (CPD), or an ELD operably linked to a histidine-rich domain and a CPD.

SEQUENCE LISTING

This application contains a Sequence Listing in computer readable form entitled Sequence_Listing.txt, created Apr. 3, 2016 having a size of about 57 kb. The computer readable form is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Cell delivery technologies to transport large molecules inside eukaryotic cells have a wide range of applications, particularly in the biopharmaceutical industry. While some soluble chemical substances (e.g., small molecule drugs) may passively diffuse through the eukaryotic cell membrane, larger cargos (e.g., biologics, polynucleotides, and polypeptides) require the help of shuttle agents to reach their intracellular targets.

An area that would greatly benefit from advances in cell delivery technologies is the field of cell therapy, which has made enormous leaps over the last two decades. Deciphering the different growth factors and molecular cues that govern cell expansion, differentiation and reprogramming open the door to many therapeutic possibilities for the treatment of unmet medical needs. For example, induction of pluripotent stem cells directly from adult cells, direct cell conversion (trans-differentiation), and genome editing (Zinc finger nuclease, TALEN™ and CRISPR/Cas9 technologies) are examples of methods that have been developed to maximize the therapeutic value of cells for clinical applications. Presently, the production of cells with high therapeutic activity usually requires ex vivo manipulations, mainly achieved by viral transduction, raising important safety and economical concerns for human applications. The ability to directly deliver active proteins such as transcription factors or artificial nucleases, inside these cells, may advantageously circumvent the safety concerns and regulatory hurdles associated with more risky gene transfer methods.

In this regard, polypeptide-based transduction agents may be useful for introducing purified recombinant proteins directly into target cells, for example, to help bypass safety concerns regarding the introduction of foreign DNA. Lipid- or cationic polymer-based transduction agents exist, but introduce safety concerns regarding chemical toxicity and efficiency, which hamper their use in human therapy. Protein transduction approaches involving fusing a recombinant protein cargo directly to a cell-penetrating peptide (e.g., HIV transactivating protein TAT) require large amounts of the recombinant protein and often fail to deliver the cargo to the proper subcellular location, leading to massive endosomal trapping and eventual degradation. Several endosomal membrane disrupting peptides have been developed to try and facilitate the escape of endosomally-trapped cargos to the cytosol. However, many of these endosomolytic peptides are intended to alleviate endosomal entrapment of cargos that have already been delivered intracellularly, and do not by themselves aid in the initial step of shuttling the cargos intracellularly across the plasma membrane (Salomone et al., 2012; Salomone et al., 2013; Erazo-Oliveras et al., 2014; Fasoli et al., 2014). Thus, there is a need for improved shuttle agents capable of increasing the transduction efficiency of polypeptide cargos, and delivering the cargos to the cytosol of target eukaryotic cells.

The present description refers to a number of documents, the content of which is herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

SUMMARY

The present description stems from the surprising discovery that synthetic peptides comprising an endosome leakage domain (ELD) operably linked to a cell penetrating domain (CPD) and optionally a histidine-rich domain, have the ability to increase the proportion of cells that can be transduced with a polypeptide cargo of interest, without the synthetic peptide being covalently bound to the polypeptide cargo. Following successful transduction, the synthetic peptides may facilitate the ability of endosomally-trapped polypeptide cargos to gain access to the cytosol, and optionally be targeted to various subcellular comparts (e.g., the nucleus).

Accordingly, the present description may additionally or alternatively relate to the following aspects:

-   (1) A synthetic peptide comprising an endosome leakage domain (ELD)     operably linked to a cell penetrating domain (CPD), or an ELD     operably linked to a histidine-rich domain and a CPD. -   (2) A polypeptide-based shuttle agent comprising an endosome leakage     domain (ELD) operably linked to a cell penetrating domain (CPD), or     an ELD operably linked to a histidine-rich domain and a CPD, for use     in increasing the transduction efficiency of an independent     polypeptide cargo to the cytosol of a target eukaryotic cell. -   (3) The synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle agent of (1)     or (2), wherein the synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle     agent: (a) comprises a minimum length of 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26,     27, 28, 29, or 30 amino acid residues and a maximum length of 35,     40, 45, 50, 55, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120,     125, 130, 135, 140, 145, or 150 amino acid residues; (b) has a     predicted net charge of at least +6, +7, +8, +9, +10, +11, +12, +13,     +14, or +15 at physiological pH; (c) is soluble in aqueous solution;     or (d) any combination of (a) to (c). -   (4) The synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle agent of any     one of (1) to (3), wherein: (a) the ELD is or is from: an     endosomolytic peptide; an antimicrobial peptide (AMP); a linear     cationic alpha-helical antimicrobial peptide; a Cecropin-A/Melittin     hybrid (CM series) peptide; pH-dependent membrane active peptide     (PAMP); a peptide amphiphile; a peptide derived from the N terminus     of the HA2 subunit of influenza hemagglutinin (HA); CM18; Diphtheria     toxin T domain (DT); GALA; PEA; INF-7; LAH4; HGP; H5WYG; HA2; EB1;     VSVG; Pseudomonas toxin; melittin; KALA; JST-1; C(LLKK)₃C;     G(LLKK)₃G; or any combination thereof; (b) the CPD is or is from: a     cell-penetrating peptide or the protein transduction domain from a     cell-penetrating peptide; TAT; PTD4; Penetratin (Antennapedia);     pVEC; M918; Pep-1; Pep-2; Xentry; arginine stretch; transportan;     SynB1; SynB3; or any combination thereof; (c) the histidine-rich     domain is a stretch of at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, or at     least 6 amino acids comprising at least 50%, at least 55%, at least     60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at     least 85%, or at least 90% histidine residues; and/or comprises at     least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7,     at least 8, or at least 9 consecutive histidine residues; or (d) any     combination of (a) to (c). -   (5) The synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle agent of any     one of (1) to (4), wherein the synthetic peptide or     polypeptide-based shuttle agent comprises: (a) an ELD comprising the     amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-15, 63, or 64, or a     variant or fragment thereof having endosomolytic activity; (b) a CPD     comprising the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 16-27     or 65, or a variant or fragment thereof having cell penetrating     activity; (c) a histidine-rich domain having at least 2, at least 3,     at least 4, at least 5, or at least 6 consecutive histidine     residues; (d) of any combination of (a) to (c). -   (6) The synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle agent of any     one of (1) to (5), wherein the domains are operably linked via one     or more linker domains. -   (7) The synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle agent of any     one of (1) to (6), wherein the synthetic peptide or     polypeptide-based shuttle agent comprises at least two different     types of CPDs and/or ELDs. -   (8) The synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle agent of any     one of (1) to (7), wherein the synthetic peptide or     polypeptide-based shuttle agent comprises: (a) an ELD which is CM18,     KALA, or C(LLKK)₃C having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1,     14, or 63, or a variant thereof having at least 85%, 90%, or 95%     identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 and having endosomolytic activity; (b) a     CPD which is TAT or PTD4 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID     NO: 17 or 65, or a variant thereof having at least 85%, 90%, or 95%     identity to SEQ ID NO: 17 or 65, and having cell penetrating     activity; or Penetratin having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:     18, or a variant thereof having at least 85%, 90%, or 95% identity     to SEQ ID NO: 18 and having cell penetrating activity; (c) a     histidine-rich domain comprising at least 6 consecutive histidine     residues; or (d) any combination of (a) to (c). -   (9) The synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle agent of any     one of (1) to (8), wherein the synthetic peptide or     polypeptide-based shuttle agent comprises or consists of the amino     acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 57-59, 66-73, or 82-102, or     a functional variant thereof having at least 85%, 90%, or 95%     identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs: 57-59, 66-73, or 82-102. -   (10) The synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle agent of any     one of (1) to (9), wherein the synthetic peptide or     polypeptide-based shuttle agent is non-toxic and/or is     metabolizable. -   (11) A composition comprising: (a) the synthetic peptide or     polypeptide-based shuttle agent as defined in any one of (1) to     (10), and a further independent synthetic peptide comprising a     histidine-rich domain and a CPD; and/or (b) a cocktail of at least     2, at least 3, at least 4, or at least 5 different types of the     synthetic peptides or polypeptide-based shuttle agents as defined in     any one of (1) to (10). -   (12) Use of the synthetic peptide, polypeptide-based shuttle agent,     or composition as defined in any one of (1) to (11), for delivering     an independent polypeptide cargo to the cytosol of a target     eukaryotic cell. -   (13) A method for increasing the transduction efficiency of a     polypeptide cargo to the cytosol of a target eukaryotic cell, the     method comprising contacting the target eukaryotic cell with the     synthetic peptide, polypeptide-based shuttle agent, or composition     as defined in any one of (1) to (11), and the polypeptide cargo. -   (14) A kit for increasing the transduction efficiency of a     polypeptide cargo to the cytosol of a target eukaryotic cell, the     kit comprising the synthetic peptide, polypeptide-based shuttle     agent, or composition as defined in any one of (1) to (11), and a     suitable container. -   (15) The synthetic peptide, polypeptide-based shuttle agent,     composition, use, method or kit of any one of (1) to (14), for use     in increasing the transduction efficiency of a polypeptide cargo to     the cytosol of a target eukaryotic cell in the presence of serum. -   (16) The synthetic peptide, polypeptide-based shuttle agent,     composition, use, method or kit of any one of (2) to (15), wherein     the polypeptide cargo: (a) comprises or lacks a CPD or a CPD as     defined in (4)(b); (b) is a recombinant protein; (c) comprises a     subcellular targeting domain; (d) is complexed with a DNA and/or RNA     molecule; or (e) any combination of (a) to (d). -   (17) The synthetic peptide, polypeptide-based shuttle agent,     composition, use, method or kit of (16), wherein the subcellular     targeting domain is: (a) a nuclear localization signal (NLS); (b) a     nucleolar signal sequence; (c) a mitochondrial signal sequence;     or (d) a peroxisome signal sequence. -   (18) The synthetic peptide, polypeptide-based shuttle agent,     composition, use, method or kit of (17), wherein: (a) the NLS is     from: E1a, T-Ag, c-myc, T-Ag, op-T-NLS, Vp3, nucleoplasmin, histone     2B, Xenopus N1, PARP, PDX-1, QKI-5, HCDA, H2B, v-Rel, Amida, RanBP3,     Pho4p, LEF-1, TCF-1, BDV-P, TR2, SOX9, or Max; (b) the nucleolar     signal sequence is from BIRC5 or RECQL4; (c) the mitochondrial     signal sequence is from Tim9 or Yeast cytochrome c oxidase subunit     IV; or (d) the peroxisome signal sequence is from PTS1. -   (19) The synthetic peptide, polypeptide-based shuttle agent,     composition, use, method or kit of any one of (2) to (18), wherein     the polypeptide cargo is a transcription factor, a nuclease, a     cytokine, a hormone, a growth factor, or an antibody. -   (20) The synthetic peptide, polypeptide-based shuttle agent,     composition, use, method or kit of (19), wherein: (a) the     transcription factor is: HOXB4, NUP98-HOXA9, Oct3/4, Sox2, Sox9,     Klf4, c-Myc, MyoD, Pdx1, Ngn3, MafA, Blimp-1, Eomes, T-bet, FOXO3A,     NF-YA, SALL4, ISL1, FoxA1, Nanog, Esrrb, Lin28, HIF1-alpha, Hlf,     Runx1t1, Pbx1, Lmo2, Zfp37, Prdm5, Bcl-6, or any combination     thereof; and/or the nuclease is: an RNA-guided endonuclease, a     CRISPR endonuclease, a type I CRISPR endonuclease, a type II CRISPR     endonuclease, a type III CRISPR endonuclease, a type IV CRISPR     endonuclease, a type V CRISPR endonuclease, a type VI CRISPR     endonuclease, CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9), Cpf1, a     zinc-finger nuclease (ZFN), a Transcription activator-like effector     nucleases (TALENs), a homing endonuclease, a meganuclease, or any     combination thereof. -   (21) The synthetic peptide, polypeptide-based shuttle agent,     composition, use, method or kit of any one of (1) to (20), for use     in cell therapy, genome editing, adoptive cell transfer, and/or     regenerative medicine. -   (22) The shuttle agent, shuttle system, composition, use, method, or     kit of any one of (2) to (21), wherein the target eukaryotic cell is     a stem cell, a primary cell, an immune cell, a T cell, or a     dendritic cell. -   (23) A eukaryotic cell comprising the synthetic peptide or     polypeptide-based shuttle agent as defined in any one of (1) to     (10), or the composition of (11). -   (24) The eukaryotic cell of (23), wherein said cell further     comprises an independent polypeptide cargo delivered intracellularly     by said synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle agent. -   (25) A method for delivering an independent polypeptide cargo to the     cytosol of a target eukaryotic cell, said method comprising     contacting said target eukaryotic cell with the synthetic peptide or     polypeptide-based shuttle agent as defined in any one of (1) to     (10), or the composition of (11); and an independent polypeptide     cargo to be delivered intracellularly by said synthetic peptide or     polypeptide-based shuttle agent. -   (26) The eukaryotic cell of (23) or (24), or the method of (25),     wherein said independent polypeptide cargo is as defined in any one     of (16) to (20). -   (27) The eukaryotic cell of (24) or (26), or the method of (25) or     (26), wherein said independent polypeptide cargo is as defined in     any one of (16) to (20). -   (28) The eukaryotic cell of (23), (24), (26) or (27), or the method     of (25), (26), or (27), wherein said eukaryotic cell is an animal     cell, a mammalian cell, a human cell, a stem cell, a primary cell,     an immune cell, a T cell, or a dendritic cell.

In some aspects, the present description may relate to one or more of the following items:

-   1. A method for increasing the transduction efficiency of an     independent polypeptide cargo to the cytosol of a target eukaryotic     cell, said method comprising contacting said target eukaryotic cell     with a synthetic peptide and said independent polypeptide cargo,     wherein said synthetic peptide:     -   (a) comprises an endosome leakage domain (ELD), or a variant or         fragment thereof having endosomolytic activity, operably linked         to a cell penetrating domain (CPD), wherein said ELD comprises         the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-15, 63, or         64;     -   (b) is not covalently bound to said independent polypeptide         cargo;     -   (c) has an overall length of between 20 and 100 amino acid         residues;     -   (d) has a net charge of at least +6 at physiological pH; and     -   (e) is soluble in aqueous solution at physiological pH, -   wherein said CPD enables intracellular delivery of said synthetic     peptide, and said ELD enables escape of endosomally trapped     independent polypeptide cargo to the cytosol of the target     eukaryotic cell. -   2. The method of item 1, wherein said synthetic peptide has an     overall length of between 20 and 70 amino acid residues. -   3. The method of item 1, wherein said CPD comprises the amino acid     sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 16-27 or 65, or is a variant or     fragment thereof having cell penetrating activity. -   4. The method of item 1, wherein said synthetic peptide further     comprises a histidine-rich domain consisting of a stretch of at     least 6 amino acids comprising at least 50%, at least 55%, at least     60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at     least 85%, or at least 90% histidine residues; and/or comprises at     least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, or at least 6     consecutive histidine residues. -   5. The method of item 1, wherein said ELD variant or ELD fragment     has at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least     90%, or at least 95% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs:     1-15, 63, or 64. -   6. The method of item 3, wherein said CPD variant or CPD fragment     has at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least     90%, or at least 95% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs:     16-27 or 65. -   7. The method of item 1, wherein said ELD and CPD are operably     linked via one or more linker domains. -   8. The method of item 1, wherein said synthetic peptide is     chemically synthesized without an N-terminal methionine residue. -   9. The method of item 1, wherein the synthetic peptide comprises the     amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 57-59, 66-72, or     82-102, or a functional variant thereof having at least 70%, at     least 85%, at least 90%, or at least 95% identity to any one of SEQ     ID NOs: 57-59, 66-72, or 82-102. -   10. The method of item 1, wherein said independent polypeptide cargo     is a recombinant protein lacking a CPD. -   11. The method of item 1, wherein said independent polypeptide cargo     is a transcription factor, a nuclease, a cytokine, a hormone, a     growth factor, or an antibody. -   12. The method of item 11, wherein:     -   (b) said transcription factor is: HOXB4, NUP98-HOXA9, Oct3/4,         Sox2, Sox9, Klf4, c-Myc, MyoD, Pdx1, Ngn3, MafA, Blimp-1, Eomes,         T-bet, FOXO3A, NF-YA, SALL4, ISL1, FoxA1, Nanog, Esrrb, Lin28,         HIF1-alpha, Hlf, Runx1t1, Pbx1, Lmo2, Zfp37, Prdm5, Bcl-6, or         any combination thereof; or     -   (b) said nuclease is an RNA-guided endonuclease, a CRISPR         endonuclease, a type I CRISPR endonuclease, a type II CRISPR         endonuclease, a type III CRISPR endonuclease, a type IV CRISPR         endonuclease, a type V CRISPR endonuclease, a type VI CRISPR         endonuclease, CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9), Cpf1, a         zinc-finger nuclease (ZFNs), a Transcription activator-like         effector nucleases (TALENs), a homing endonuclease, or a         meganuclease. -   13. The method of item 11, wherein said nuclease is Cas9 or Cpf1. -   14. The method of item 13, wherein said nuclease further comprises a     guide RNA, a crRNA, a tracrRNA, or both a crRNA and a tracrRNA. -   15. The method of item 1, wherein said independent polypeptide cargo     comprises a nuclear localization signal or a further nuclear     localization signal. -   16. The method of item 15, wherein said independent polypeptide     cargo is a transcription factor or a nuclease. -   17. The method of item 16 wherein:     -   (a) said transcription factor is: HOXB4, NUP98-HOXA9, Oct3/4,         Sox2, Sox9, Klf4, c-Myc, MyoD, Pdx1, Ngn3, MafA, Blimp-1, Eomes,         T-bet, FOXO3A, NF-YA, SALL4, ISL1, FoxA1, Nanog, Esrrb, Lin28,         HIF1-alpha, Hlf, Runx1t1, Pbx1, Lmo2, Zfp37, Prdm5, Bcl-6, or         any combination thereof; or     -   (b) said nuclease is an RNA-guided endonuclease, a CRISPR         endonuclease, a type I CRISPR endonuclease, a type II CRISPR         endonuclease, a type III CRISPR endonuclease, a type IV CRISPR         endonuclease, a type V CRISPR endonuclease, a type VI CRISPR         endonuclease, CRISPR endonuclease, CRISPR associated protein 9         (Cas9), Cpf1, a zinc-finger nuclease (ZFNs), a Transcription         activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), a homing         endonuclease, or a meganuclease. -   18. The method of item 17, wherein said nuclease is Cas9 or Cpf1. -   19. The method of item 18, wherein said nuclease further comprises a     guide RNA. -   20. The method of item 1, wherein said cell is stem cell, a primary     cell, an immune cell, a T cell, or a dendritic cell. -   21. A method for increasing the transduction efficiency of an     independent polypeptide cargo to the cytosol of a target eukaryotic     cell, said method comprising contacting said target eukaryotic cell     with a synthetic peptide and said independent polypeptide cargo,     wherein said synthetic peptide:     -   (a) comprises an endosome leakage domain (ELD) operably linked         to a cell penetrating domain (CPD), wherein said ELD is an         endosomolytic peptide which is, or is derived from: a linear         cationic alpha-helical antimicrobial peptide; a         Cecropin-A/Melittin hybrid (CM series) peptide; pH-dependent         membrane active peptide (PAMP); a peptide amphiphile; a peptide         derived from the N terminus of the HA2 subunit of influenza         hemagglutinin (HA); CM18; Diphtheria toxin T domain (DT); GALA;         PEA; INF-7; LAH4; HGP; H5WYG; HA2; EB1; VSVG; Pseudomonas toxin;         melittin; KALA; JST-1; C(LLKK)₃C; or G(LLKK)₃G;     -   (b) is not covalently bound to said independent polypeptide         cargo;     -   (c) has an overall length of between 20 and 100 amino acid         residues;     -   (d) has a net charge of at least +6 at physiological pH; and     -   (e) is soluble in aqueous solution at physiological pH, -   wherein said CPD enables intracellular delivery of said synthetic     peptide, and said ELD enables escape of endosomally trapped     independent polypeptide cargo to the cytosol of the target     eukaryotic cell. -   22. The method of item 21, wherein said CPD is, or is derived from:     a cell-penetrating peptide or the protein transduction domain from a     cell-penetrating peptide; TAT; PTD4; Penetratin (Antennapedia);     pVEC; M918; Pep-1; Pep-2; Xentry; arginine stretch; transportan;     SynB1; SynB3; or any combination thereof. -   23. The method of item 21, wherein said synthetic peptide further     comprises a histidine-rich domain consisting of a stretch of at     least 3 amino acids comprising at least 50%, at least 55%, at least     60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at     least 85%, or at least 90% histidine residues; and/or comprises at     least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, or at least 6     consecutive histidine residues. -   24. The method of item 21, wherein said ELD and CPD are operably     linked via one or more linker domains. -   25. The method of item 21, wherein said independent polypeptide     cargo is a transcription factor, a nuclease, a cytokine, a hormone,     a growth factor, or an antibody. -   26. The method of item 25, wherein said transcription factor is:     HOXB4, NUP98-HOXA9, Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc, MyoD, Pdx1, Ngn3,     MafA, Blimp-1, Eomes, T-bet, FOXO3A, NF-YA, SALL4, ISL1, FoxA1,     Nanog, Esrrb, Lin28, HIF1-alpha, Hlf, Runx1t1, Pbx1, Lmo2, Zfp37,     Prdm5, Bcl-6, or any combination thereof. -   27. The method of item 25, wherein said nuclease is an RNA-guided     endonuclease, a CRISPR endonuclease, a type I CRISPR endonuclease, a     type II CRISPR endonuclease, a type III CRISPR endonuclease, a type     IV CRISPR endonuclease, a type V CRISPR endonuclease, a type VI     CRISPR endonuclease, CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9), Cpf1, a     zinc-finger nuclease (ZFNs), a Transcription activator-like effector     nucleases (TALENs), a homing endonuclease, or a meganuclease. -   28. The method of item 25, wherein said nuclease is Cas9 or Cpf1. -   29. A method for increasing the transduction efficiency of an     independent polypeptide cargo to the cytosol of a target eukaryotic     cell, said method comprising contacting said target eukaryotic cell     with a synthetic peptide and said independent polypeptide cargo     which is not covalently bound to said synthetic peptide, wherein     said synthetic peptide comprises an endosome leakage domain (ELD)     operably linked to a cell penetrating domain, or an ELD operably     linked to a CPD and a histidine-rich domain, wherein:     -   (a) said ELD comprises the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ         ID NOs: 1-15, 63, or 64;     -   (b) said CPD comprises the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ         ID NOs: 16-27 or 65; and     -   (c) said histidine-rich domain comprises at least two         consecutive histidine residues. -   30. A method for delivering a CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9) to     the nucleus of a target eukaryotic cell, said method comprising     contacting said eukaryotic cell with a Cas9 recombinant protein     comprising a nuclear localization signal, and a separate synthetic     peptide shuttle agent less than 100 residues in length and     comprising an endosome leakage domain (ELD) operably linked to a     cell penetrating domain, or an ELD operably linked to a CPD and a     histidine-rich domain, wherein:     -   (a) said ELD comprises the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ         ID NOs: 1-15, 63, or 64;     -   (b) said CPD comprises the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ         ID NOs: 16-27 or 65; and     -   (c) said histidine-rich domain comprises at least two         consecutive histidine residues.

GENERAL DEFINITIONS

Headings, and other identifiers, e.g., (a), (b), (i), (ii), etc., are presented merely for ease of reading the specification and claims. The use of headings or other identifiers in the specification or claims does not necessarily require the steps or elements be performed in alphabetical or numerical order or the order in which they are presented.

The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more”, “at least one”, and “one or more than one”.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standard deviation of error for the device or method being employed to determine the value. In general, the terminology “about” is meant to designate a possible variation of up to 10%. Therefore, a variation of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10% of a value is included in the term “about”. Unless indicated otherwise, use of the term “about” before a range applies to both ends of the range.

As used in this specification and claim(s), the words “comprising” (and any form of comprising, such as “comprise” and “comprises”), “having” (and any form of having, such as “have” and “has”), “including” (and any form of including, such as “includes” and “include”) or “containing” (and any form of containing, such as “contains” and “contain”) are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, un-recited elements or method steps.

As used herein, “protein” or “polypeptide” means any peptide-linked chain of amino acids, which may or may not comprise any type of modification (e.g., post-translational modifications such as acetylation, phosphorylation, glycosylation, sulfatation, sumoylation, prenylation, ubiquitination, etc).

As used herein, the expression “is or is from” or “is from” comprises functional variants of a given protein domain (CPD or ELD), such as conservative amino acid substitutions, deletions, modifications, as well as variants or function derivatives, which do not abrogate the activity of the protein domain. Other objects, advantages and features of the present description will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of specific embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the appended drawings:

FIGS. 1A-1B show a typical result of a calcein endosomal escape assay in which HEK293A cells were loaded with the fluorescent dye calcein (“100 μM calcein”), and were then treated (or not) with a shuttle agent that facilitates endosomal escape of the calcein (“100 μM calcein+CM18-TAT 5 μM”). FIG. 1A shows the results of a fluorescence microscopy experiment, while FIG. 1B shows the results of a flow cytometry experiment.

FIG. 2 shows the results of a calcein endosomal escape flow cytometry assay in which HeLa cells were loaded with calcein (“calcein 100 μM”), and were then treated with increasing concentrations of the shuttle agent CM18-TAT-Cys (labeled “CM18-TAT”).

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the results of calcein endosomal escape flow cytometry assays in which HeLa cells (FIG. 3) or primary myoblasts (FIG. 4) were loaded with calcein (“calcein 100 μM”), and were then treated with 5 μM or 8 μM of the shuttle agents CM18-TAT-Cys or CM18-Penetratin-Cys (labeled “CM18-TAT” and “CM18-Penetratin”, respectively).

FIG. 5 shows the results of a GFP transduction experiment visualized by fluorescence microscopy in which a GFP cargo protein was co-incubated with 0, 3 or 5 μM of CM18-TAT-Cys (labeled “CM18-TAT”), and then exposed to HeLa cells. The cells were observed by bright field (upper pictures in FIG. 5) and fluorescence microscopy (lower pictures in FIG. 5).

FIGS. 6A-6B show the results of a GFP transduction efficiency experiment in which GFP cargo protein (10 μM) was co-incubated with different concentrations of CM18-TAT-Cys (labeled “CM18-TAT”), prior to being exposed to HeLa cells. Cells were evaluated by flow cytometry and the percentage of fluorescent (GFP-positive) cell is shown in FIG. 6A, and corresponding cell toxicity data is shown in FIG. 6B.

FIGS. 7A-7B show the results of a GFP transduction efficiency experiment in which different concentrations of GFP cargo protein (10, 5 or 1 μM) were co-incubated with either 5 μM of CM18-TAT-Cys (FIG. 7A, labeled “CM18TAT”), or 2.5 μM of dCM18-TAT-Cys (FIG. 7B, labeled “dCM18TAT”), prior to being exposed to HeLa cells. Cells were evaluated by flow cytometry and the percentages of fluorescent (GFP-positive) cells are shown.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show the results of GFP transduction efficiency experiments in which GFP cargo protein (10 μM) was co-incubated with different concentrations and combinations of CM18-TAT-Cys (labeled “CM18TAT”), CM18-Penetratin-Cys (labeled “CM18penetratin”), and dimers of each (dCM18-TAT-Cys (labeled “dCM18TAT”), dCM18-Penetratin-Cys (labeled “dCM18penetratin”), prior to being exposed to HeLa cells. Cells were evaluated by flow cytometry and the percentages of fluorescent (GFP-positive) cells are shown.

FIG. 10 shows typical results of a TAT-GFP transduction experiment in which TAT-GFP cargo protein (5 μM) was co-incubated with 3 μM of CM18-TAT-Cys (labeled “CM18-TAT”), prior to being exposed to HeLa cells. Cells and GFP fluorescence were visualized by bright field and fluorescence microscopy at 10× and 40× magnifications. Arrows indicate the endosome delivery of TAT-GFP in the absence of CM18-TAT-Cys, as well as its nuclear delivery in the presence of CM18-TAT-Cys.

FIGS. 11A-11B show the results of a TAT-GFP transduction efficiency experiment in which TAT-GFP cargo protein (5 μM) was co-incubated with different concentrations of CM18-TAT-Cys (labeled “CM18TAT”), prior to being exposed to HeLa cells. Cells were evaluated by flow cytometry and the percentage of fluorescent (GFP-positive) cell is shown in FIG. 11A, and corresponding cell toxicity data is shown in FIG. 11B.

FIG. 12 shows typical results of a GFP-NLS transduction experiment in which GFP-NLS cargo protein (5 μM) was co-incubated with 5 μM of CM18-TAT-Cys (labeled “CM18-TAT”), prior to being exposed to HeLa cells for 5 minutes. Cells and GFP fluorescence were visualized by bright field and fluorescence microscopy at 10×, 20×, and 40× magnifications. Arrows indicate areas of nuclear delivery of GFP-NLS.

FIGS. 13A-13B show the results of a GFP-NLS transduction efficiency experiment in which GFP-NLS cargo protein (5 μM) was co-incubated with different concentrations of CM18-TAT-Cys (labeled “CM18TAT”), prior to being exposed to HeLa cells. Cells were evaluated by flow cytometry and the percentage of fluorescent (GFP-positive) cell is shown in FIG. 13A, and corresponding cell toxicity data is shown in FIG. 13B.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show the results of GFP-NLS transduction efficiency experiments in which GFP-NLS cargo protein (5 μM) was co-incubated with different concentrations and combinations of CM18-TAT (labeled “CM18TAT”), CM18-Penetratin (labeled “CM18penetratin”), and dimers of each (dCM18-TAT-Cys, dCM18-Penetratin-Cys; labeled “dCM18TAT” and “dCM18penetratin”, respectively), prior to being exposed to HeLa cells. Cells were evaluated by flow cytometry and the percentages of fluorescent (GFP-positive) cells are shown.

FIG. 16 shows the results of a GFP-NLS transduction efficiency experiment in which GFP-NLS cargo protein (5 μM) was co-incubated with either CM18-TAT-Cys (3.5 μM, labeled “CM18TAT”) alone or with dCM18-Penetratin-Cys (1 μM, labeled “dCM18pen”) for 5 minutes or 1 hour in plain DMEM media (“DMEM”) or DMEM media containing 10% FBS (“FBS”), before being subjected to flow cytometry analysis. The percentages of fluorescent (GFP-positive) cells are shown. Cells that were not treated with shuttle agent or GFP-NLS (“ctrl”), and cells that were treated with GFP-NLS without shuttle agent (“GFP-NLS 5 μM”) were used as controls.

FIGS. 17A-17B show the results of a GFP-NLS transduction efficiency experiment in which GFP-NLS cargo protein (5 μM) was co-incubated with or without 1 μM CM18-TAT-Cys (labeled “CM18TAT”), prior to being exposed to THP-1 cells. Cells were evaluated by flow cytometry and the percentage of fluorescent (GFP-positive) cells is shown in FIG. 17A, and corresponding cell toxicity data is shown in FIG. 17B.

FIGS. 18A-18C show the results of a transduction efficiency experiment in which the cargo protein, FITC-labeled anti-tubulin antibody (0.5 μM), was co-incubated with 5 μM of CM18-TAT-Cys (labeled “CM18-TAT”), prior to being exposed to HeLa cells. Functional antibody delivery was visualized by bright field (20×—FIG. 18A) and fluorescence microscopy (20×—FIG. 18B and 40×—FIG. 18C), in which fluorescent tubulin fibers in the cytoplasm were visualized.

FIGS. 19A-19B show the results of an FITC-labeled anti-tubulin antibody transduction efficiency experiment in which the antibody cargo protein (0.5 μM) was co-incubated with 3.5 μM of CM18-TAT-Cys (labeled “CM18TAT”), CM18-Penetratin-Cys (labeled “CM18pen”) or dCM18-Penetratin-Cys (labeled “dCM18pen”), or a combination of 3.5 μM of CM18-TAT-Cys and 0.5 μM of dCM18-Penetratin-Cys, prior to being exposed to HeLa cells. Cells were evaluated by flow cytometry and the percentage of fluorescent (FITC-positive) cell is shown in FIG. 19A, and corresponding cell toxicity data is shown in FIG. 19B.

FIG. 20 shows the results of DNA transfection efficiency experiment in which plasmid DNA (pEGFP) was labeled with a Cy5™ dye was co-incubated with 0, 0.05, 0.5, or 5 μM of CM18-TAT-Cys (labeled “CM18-TAT”), prior to being exposed to HEK293A cells. Flow cytometry analysis allowed quantification of Cy5™ emission (corresponding to DNA intracellular delivery; y-axis) and GFP emission (corresponding to successful nuclear delivery of DNA; percentage indicated above each bar).

FIGS. 21A-21B show the results of a GFP-NLS transduction efficiency experiment in which the GFP-NLS cargo protein (5 μM) was co-incubated with 1, 3, or 5 μM of CM18-TAT-Cys (labeled “CM18TAT”), of His-CM18-TAT (labeled “His-CM18TAT”), prior to being exposed to HeLa cells. Cells were evaluated by flow cytometry and the percentage of fluorescent (GFP-positive) cell is shown in FIG. 21A, and corresponding cell toxicity data is shown in FIG. 2l B.

FIGS. 22A-22B show the results of a transduction efficiency experiment in which GFP-NLS cargo protein was intracellularly delivered using the shuttle His-CM18-PTD4 in HeLa cells. GFP-NLS transduction efficiency was evaluated by flow cytometry and the percentage of GFP fluorescent cells (“Pos cells (%)”), as well as corresponding cell viability data (“viability (%)”) are shown. FIG. 22A shows a comparison of GFP-NLS transduction efficiencies using different transduction protocols (Protocol A vs. B). FIG. 22B shows the effect of using different concentrations of the shuttle His-CM18-PTD4 when using Protocol B.

FIGS. 23A-23D, FIGS. 24A-24B, FIGS. 25A-25B and FIGS. 26A-26C are microscopy images showing the results of transduction experiments in which GFP-NLS (FIGS. 23A-23D, 24A, 24B, 25A-B and 26A-26C) cargo protein was intracellularly delivered with the shuttle His-CM18-PTD4 in HeLa cells. FIGS. 23D, 24A, 26A, and FIGS. 23A to 23C, 24B, 25A-B, 26B-C show the bright field and fluorescence images, respectively, of living cells. In FIG. 25A-25B, the cells were fixed, permeabilized and subjected to immuno-labelling with an anti-GFP antibody and a fluorescent secondary antibody. White triangle windows indicate examples of areas of co-labelling between nuclei (DAPI) and GFP-NLS signals. FIG. 26A-26C shows images captured by confocal microscopy.

FIGS. 27A, 27B, 27C, and 27D show microscopy images of a kinetic (time-course) transduction experiment in HeLa cells, where the fluorescence of GFP-NLS cargo protein was tracked after 45 (FIG. 27A), 75 (FIG. 27B), 100 (FIG. 27C), and 120 (FIG. 27D) seconds following intracellular delivery with the shuttle His-CM18-PTD4. The diffuse cytoplasmic fluorescence pattern observed after 45 seconds (FIG. 27A) gradually becomes a more concentrated nuclear pattern at 120 seconds (FIG. 27D).

FIGS. 28A-28D show microscopy images of co-delivery transduction experiment in which two cargo proteins (GFP-NLS and mCherry™-NLS) are simultaneously delivered intracellularly by the shuttle His-CM18-PTD4 in HeLa cells. Cells and fluorescent signals were visualized by (FIG. 28A) bright field and (FIGS. 28B-28D) fluorescence microscopy. White triangle windows indicate examples of areas of co-labelling between nuclei (DAPI) and GFP-NLS or mCherry™.

FIGS. 29A-291 show the results of GFP-NLS transduction efficiency experiments in HeLa cells using different shuttle agents or single-domain/control peptides. GFP-NLS transduction efficiency was evaluated by flow cytometry and the percentage of GFP fluorescent cells (“Pos cells (%)”), as well as corresponding cell viability data (“viability (%)”) are shown in FIGS. 29A, 29B, 29D-29G, and 29I. In FIG. 29A and FIG. 29D-29F, cells were exposed to the cargo/shuttle agent for 10 seconds. In FIG. 29I, cells were exposed to the cargo/shuttle agent for 1 minute. In FIGS. 29B, 29C, 29G and 29H, cells were exposed to the cargo/shuttle agent for 1, 2, or 5 min. “Relative fluorescence intensity (FL1-A)” or “Signal intensity” corresponds to the mean of all fluorescence intensities from each cell with a GFP fluorescent signal after GFP-NLS fluorescent protein delivery with the shuttle agent. FIG. 29D shows the results of a control experiment in which only single-domain peptides (ELD or CDP) or the peptide His-PTD4 (His-CPD) were used for the GFP-NLS transduction, instead of the multi-domain shuttle agents.

FIG. 30A-30F shows microscopy images of HeLa cells transduced with GFP-NLS using the shuttle agent (FIG. 30A) TAT-KALA, (FIG. 30B) His-CM18-PTD4, (FIG. 30C) His-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4, (FIG. 30D) PTD4-KALA, (FIG. 30E) EB1-PTD4, and (FIG. 30F) His-CM18-PTD4-His. The insets in the row of the lower pictures in FIGS. 30A-30F show the results of corresponding flow cytometry analyses, indicating the percentage of cells exhibiting GFP fluorescence.

FIG. 31 shows the results of a transduction efficiency experiment in which GFP-NLS cargo protein was intracellularly delivered using the shuttle His-CM18-PTD4 in THP-1 cells using different Protocols (Protocol A vs C). GFP-NLS transduction efficiency was evaluated by flow cytometry and the percentage of GFP fluorescent cells (“Pos cells (%)”), as well as corresponding cell viability data (“viability (%)”) are shown. “Ctrl” corresponds to THP-1 cells exposed to GFP-NLS cargo protein in the absence of a shuttle agent.

FIGS. 32A-32D show microscopy images of THP-1 cells transduced with GFP-NLS cargo protein using the shuttle His-CM18-PTD4. Images captured under at 4×, 10× and 40× magnifications are shown in FIGS. 32A-32C, respectively. White triangle windows in FIG. 32C indicate examples of areas of co-labelling between cells (bright field) and GFP-NLS fluorescence. FIG. 32D shows the results of corresponding flow cytometry analyses, indicating the percentage of cells exhibiting GFP fluorescence.

FIGS. 33A-33D show microscopy images of THP-1 cells transduced with GFP-NLS cargo protein using the shuttle His-CM18-PTD4. White triangle windows indicate examples of areas of co-labelling between cells (bright field; FIG. 33A-33B), and GFP-NLS fluorescence (FIG. 33C-33D). FIG. 33E shows FACS analysis of GFP-positive cells.

FIGS. 34A-34B show the results of GFP-NLS transduction efficiency experiments in THP-1 cells using the shuttle TAT-KALA, His-CM18-PTD4, or His-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4. The cargo protein/shuttle agents were exposed to the THP-1 cells for 15, 30, 60 or 120 seconds. GFP-NLS transduction efficiency was evaluated by flow cytometry and the percentage of GFP fluorescent cells (“Pos cells (%)”), as well as corresponding cell viability data (“viability (%)”) are shown in FIG. 34A. In FIG. 34B, “Relative fluorescence intensity (FL1-A)” corresponds to the mean of all fluorescence intensities from each cell with a GFP fluorescent signal after GFP-NLS fluorescent protein delivery with the shuttle agent.

FIGS. 35A-35F show the results of transduction efficiency experiments in which THP-1 cells were exposed daily to GFP-NLS cargo in the presence of a shuttle agent for 2.5 hours. His-CM18-PTD4 was used in FIGS. 35A-35E, and His-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4 was used in FIG. 35F. GFP-NLS transduction efficiency was determined by flow cytometry at Day 1 or Day 3, and the results are expressed as the percentage of GFP fluorescent cells (“Pos cells (%)”), as well as corresponding cell viability data (“viability (%)”) in FIGS. 35A-35C and in FIG. 35F. FIG. 35D shows the metabolic activity index of the THP-1 cells after 1, 2, 4, and 24 h, and FIG. 35E shows the metabolic activity index of the THP-1 cells after 1 to 4 days, for cells exposed to the His-CM18-PTD4 shuttle.

FIG. 36 shows a comparison of the GFP-NLS transduction efficiencies in a plurality of different types of cells (e.g., adherent and suspension, as well as cell lines and primary cells) using the shuttle His-CM18-PTD4, as measured by flow cytometry. The results are expressed as the percentage of GFP fluorescent cells (“Pos cells (%)”), as well as corresponding cell viability data (“viability (%)”).

FIGS. 37A, 37B, 37C, 37D, 37E, 37F, 37G, and 37H show fluorescence microscopy images of different types of cells transduced with GFP-NLS cargo using the shuttle His-CM18-PTD4. GFP fluorescence was visualized by fluorescence microscopy at a 10× magnification. The results of parallel flow cytometry experiments are also provided in the insets (viability and percentage of GFP-fluorescing cells).

FIGS. 38A-38B show fluorescence microscopy images of primary human myoblasts transduced with GFP-NLS using the shuttle His-CM18-PTD4. Cells were fixed and permeabilized prior to immuno-labelling GFP-NLS with an anti-GFP antibody and a fluorescent secondary antibody. Immuno-labelled GFP is shown in FIG. 38A, and this image is overlaid with nuclei (DAPI) labelling in FIG. 38B.

FIGS. 39A-39E show a schematic layout (FIGS. 39A, 39B and 39C) and sample fluorescence images (D and E) of a transfection plasmid surrogate assay used to evaluate the activity of intracellularly delivered CRISPR/Cas9-NLS complex. In FIG. 39A) At Day 1, cells are transfected with an expression plasmid encoding the fluorescent proteins mCherry™ and GFP, with a STOP codon separating their two open reading frames. Transfection of the cells with the expression plasmid results in only mCherry™ expression as shown in FIG. 39D. A CRISPR/Cas9-NLS complex, which has been designed/programmed to cleave the plasmid DNA at the STOP codon, is then delivered intracellularly to the transfected cells expressing mCherry™, resulting double-stranded cleavage of the plasmid DNA at the STOP codon as shown in FIG. 39B In a fraction of the cells, random non-homologous DNA repair of the cleaved plasmid occurs and results in removal of the STOP codon (FIG. 39C), and thus GFP expression and fluorescence (FIG. 39E). White triangle windows indicate examples of areas of co-labelling of mCherry™ and GFP fluorescence.

FIGS. 40A-40H show fluorescence microscopy images of HeLa cells expressing mCherry™ and GFP, indicating CRISPR/Cas9-NLS-mediated cleavage of plasmid surrogate DNA. In FIGS. 40A-40D, HeLa cells were co-transfected with three plasmids: the plasmid surrogate as described in the brief description of FIGS. 39A-39E, and two other expression plasmids encoding the Cas9-NLS protein and crRNA/tracrRNAs, respectively. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated cleavage of the plasmid surrogate at the STOP codon, and subsequent DNA repair by the cell, enables expression of GFP (FIGS. 40B and 40D) in addition to mCherry™ (FIGS. 40A and 40C). In FIGS. 40E and 40H, HeLa cells were transfected with the plasmid surrogate and then transduced with an active CRISPR/Cas9-NLS complex using the shuttle His-CM18-PTD4. CRISPR/Cas9-NLS-mediated cleavage of the plasmid surrogate at the STOP codon, and subsequent DNA repair by the cell, enables expression of GFP (FIGS. 40F and 40H) in addition to mCherry™ (FIGS. 40E and 40G).

FIG. 41A (Lanes A to D) shows the products of a DNA cleavage assay (T7E1 assay) separated by agarose gel electrophoresis, which is used to measure CRISPR/Cas9-mediated cleavage of cellular genomic DNA. HeLa cells were transduced with a CRISPR-Cas9-NLS complex programmed to cleave the PPIB gene. The presence of the cleavage product framed in white boxes 1 and 2, indicates cleavage of the PPIB gene by the CRISPR-Cas9-NLS complex, which was delivered intracellularly using the shuttle His-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4 (FIG. 41—lane B) or with a lipidic transfection agent used as a positive control (lane in FIG. 41D). This cleavage product is absent in negative controls (FIG. 41, Lanes A and C).

FIG. 41B shows the products of a DNA cleavage assay (T7E1 assay) separated by agarose gel electrophoresis, which is used to measure CRISPR/Cas9-mediated cleavage of cellular genomic DNA (PPIB DNA sequences). The left picture of the FIG. 41B shows the cleavage product of the amplified PPIB DNA sequence by the CRIPR/Cas9 complex after the delivery of the complex with the shuttle agent His-CM18-PTD4 in HeLa cells. The right picture of the FIG. 41B shows amplified DNA sequence before the T7E1 digestion procedure as a negative control.

FIG. 41C shows the products of a DNA cleavage assay (T7E1 assay) separated by agarose gel electrophoresis, which is used to measure CRISPR/Cas9-mediated cleavage of cellular genomic DNA (PPIB DNA sequences). The left picture of the FIG. 41C shows the amplified PPIB DNA sequence after incubation of the HeLa cells with the Cas9/RNAs complex in presence of a lipidic transfection agent (DharmaFect™ transfection reagent # T-20XX-01) (positive control). The right picture of the FIG. 41C shows amplified DNA sequence before the T7E1 digestion procedure as a negative control. FIGS. 42-44 show the transcriptional activity of THP-1 cells that have been transduced with the transcription factor HOXB4 using different concentrations of the shuttle His-CM18-PTD4 and different cargo/shuttle exposure times. Successful intra-nuclear delivery of HOXB4 was determined by monitoring mRNA levels of a target gene by real-time PCR, and the results are normalized against those in the negative control (HOXB4 without shuttle agent) and expressed as “Fold over control” (left bars). Total cellular RNA (ng/μL) was quantified and used a marker for cell viability (right bars). “0” or “Ctrl” means “no treatment”; “TF” means “Transcription Factor alone”; “FS” means “shuttle alone”.

FIGS. 45A-45D show fluorescence microscopy images of HeLa cells transduced with wild-type HOXB4 cargo using the shuttle His-CM18-PTD4. After a 30-minute incubation to allow transduced HOXB4-WT to accumulate in the nucleus, the cells were fixed, permeabilized and HOXB4-WT was labelled using a primary anti-HOXB4 monoclonal antibody and a fluorescent secondary antibody (FIGS. 45B and 45D). Nuclei were labelled with DAPI (FIGS. 45A and 45C). White triangle windows indicate examples of areas of co-labelling between nuclei and HOXB4—compare FIGS. 45A vs 45B (×20 magnification), and FIGS. 45C vs 45D (×40 magnification).

FIGS. 46A-46B show the products of a DNA cleavage assay separated by agarose gel electrophoresis, which is used to measure CRISPR/Cas9-mediated cleavage of cellular genomic DNA (HPTR sequence) after intracellular delivery of the complex with different shuttle agents. FIG. 46A shows the results with the shuttle agents: His-CM18-PTD4, His-CM18-PTD4-His, and His-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4 in HeLa cells. FIG. 46B shows the results with His-CM18-PTD4-His and His-CM18-L2-PTD4 in Jurkat cells. Negative controls (lane 4 in FIGS. 46A and 46B) show amplified HPTR DNA sequence after incubation of the cells with the CRISPR/Cas9 complex without the presence of the shuttle agent. Positive controls (lane 5 in FIGS. 46A and 46B) show the amplified HPTR DNA sequence after incubation of the cells with the Cas9/RNAs complex in presence of a commercial lipidic transfection agent.

FIG. 47 shows the transcriptional activity of THP-1 cells that have been transduced with the transcription factor HOXB4 using the shuttle agents His-CM18-PTD4, TAT-KALA, EB1-PTD4, His-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4 and His-CM18-PTD4-His. Successful intra-nuclear delivery of HOXB4 was determined by monitoring mRNA levels of a target gene by real-time PCR, and the results were normalized against those in the negative control (HOXB4 without shuttle agent) and expressed as “Fold over control” (left bars). Total cellular RNA (ng/μL) was quantified and used a marker for cell viability (right bars). “0” or “Ctrl” means “no treatment”; “TF” means “Transcription Factor alone”; “FS” means “shuttle alone”.

FIGS. 48A-48D show in vivo GFP-NLS delivery in rat parietal cortex by His-CM18-PTD4. Briefly, GFP-NLS (20 μM) was injected in the parietal cortex of rat in presence of the shuttle agent His-CM18-PTD4 (20 μM) for 10 min. Dorso-ventral rat brain slices were collected and analysed by fluorescence microscopy at (FIG. 48A) 4×, (FIG. 48C) 10× and (FIG. 48D) 20× magnifications. The injection site is located in the deepest layers of the parietal cortex (PCx). In presence of the His-CM18-PTD4 shuttle agent, the GFP-NLS diffused in cell nuclei of the PCx, of the Corpus Callus (Cc) and of the striatum (Str) (white curves mark limitations between brains structures). FIG. 48B shows the stereotaxic coordinates of the injection site (black arrows) from the rat brain atlas of Franklin and Paxinos. The injection of GFP-NLS in presence of His-CM18-PTD4 was performed on the left part of the brain, and the negative control (injection of GFP-NLS alone), was done on the contralateral site. The black circle and connected black lines in FIG. 48B show the areas observed in the fluorescent pictures (FIGS. 48A, 48C and 48D).

SEQUENCE LISTING

This application contains a Sequence Listing in computer readable form entitled Sequence_Listing.txt, created Apr. 3, 2016 having a size of about 57 kb. The computer readable form is incorporated herein by reference.

SEQ ID NO: Description 1 CM18 2 Diphtheria toxin T domain (DT) 3 GALA 4 PEA 5 INF-7 6 LAH4 7 HGP 8 H5WYG 9 HA2 10 EB1 11 VSVG 12 Pseudomonas toxin 13 Melittin 14 KALA 15 JST-1 16 SP 17 TAT 18 Penetratin (Antennapedia) 19 pVEC 20 M918 21 Pep-1 22 Pep-2 23 Xentry 24 Arginine stretch 25 Transportan 26 SynB1 27 SynB3 28 E1a 29 SV40 T-Ag 30 c-myc 31 Op-T-NLS 32 Vp3 33 Nucleoplasmin 34 Histone 2B NLS 35 Xenopus N1 36 PARP 37 PDX-1 38 QKI-5 39 HCDA 40 H2B 41 v-Rel 42 Amida 43 RanBP3 44 Pho4p 45 LEF-1 46 TCF-1 47 BDV-P 48 TR2 49 SOX9 50 Max 51 Mitochondrial signal sequence from Tim9 52 Mitochondrial signal sequence from Yeast cytochrome c oxidase subunit IV 53 Mitochondrial signal sequence from 18S rRNA 54 Peroxisome signal sequence - PTS1 55 Nucleolar signal sequence from BIRC5 56 Nucleolar signal sequence from RECQL4 57 CM18-TAT 58 CM18-Penetratin 59 His-CM18-TAT 60 GFP 61 TAT-GFP 62 GFP-NLS 63 C(LLKK)₃C 64 G(LLKK)₃G 65 PTD4 66 TAT-CM18 67 TAT-KALA 68 His-CM18-PTD4 69 His-CM18-9Arg 70 His-CM18-Transportan 71 His-LAH4-PTD4 72 His-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4 73 mCherry ™-NLS 74 Cas9-NLS 75 crRNA (Example 13.3) 76 tracrRNA (Example 13.3) 77 Feldan tracrRNA (Example 13.5, 13.6) 78 PPIB crRNA (Example 13.5) 79 Dharmacon tracrRNA (Example 13.5) 80 HOXB4-WT 81 His-PTD4 82 PTD4-KALA 83 9Arg-KALA 84 Pep1-KALA 85 Xentry-KALA 86 SynB3-KALA 87 VSVG-PTD4 88 EB1-PTD4 89 JST-PTD4 90 CM18-PTD4 91 6Cys-CM18-PTD4 92 CM18-L1-PTD4 93 CM18-L2-PTD4 94 CM18-L3-PTD4 95 His-CM18-TAT 96 His-CM18-PTD4-6Cys 97 3His-CM18-PTD4 98 12His-CM18-PTD4 99 HA-CM18-PTD4 100 3HA-CM18-PTD4 101 CM18-His-PTD4 102 His-CM18-PTD4-His 103 HPRT crRNA (Example 13.6)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present description stems from the surprising discovery that multi-domain synthetic peptides comprising an endosome leakage domain (ELD) operably linked to a cell penetrating domain (CPD) can significantly increase the transduction efficiency of an independent polypeptide cargo to the cytosol of eukaryotic target cells. In contrast, this increase in transduction efficiency was not found using independent single-domain peptides containing only an ELD, or only a CPD used alone or together (i.e., in a mixture of separate single-domain peptides). Accordingly, in some aspects the present description relates to a polypeptide-based shuttle agent comprising an endosome leakage domain (ELD) operably linked to a cell penetrating domain (CPD), or an ELD operably linked to a histidine-rich domain and a CPD, for use in increasing the transduction efficiency of an independent polypeptide cargo to the cytosol of a target eukaryotic cell.

Synthetic Peptides and Polypeptide-based Shuttle Agents

As used herein, the term “synthetic” used in expressions such as “synthetic peptide” or “synthetic polypeptide” is intended to refer to non-naturally occurring molecules that can be produced in vitro (e.g., synthesized chemically and/or produced using recombinant DNA technology). The purities of various synthetic preparations may be assessed by for example high-performance liquid chromatography analysis and mass spectroscopy. Chemical synthesis approaches may be advantageous over cellular expression systems (e.g., yeast or bacteria protein expression systems), as they may preclude the need for extensive recombinant protein purification steps (e.g., required for clinical use). In contrast, longer synthetic polypeptides may be more complicated and/or costly to produce via chemical synthesis approaches and such polypeptides may be more advantageously produced using cellular expression systems. In some embodiments, the peptides or shuttle agent of the present description may be chemically synthesized (e.g., solid- or liquid phase peptide synthesis), as opposed to expressed from a recombinant host cell. In some embodiments, the peptides or shuttle agent of the present description may lack an N-terminal methionine residue. A person of skill in the art may adapt a synthetic peptide or shuttle agent of the present description by using one or more modified amino acids (e.g., non-naturally-occurring amino acids), or by chemically modifying the synthetic peptide or shuttle agent of the present description, to suit particular needs of stability or other needs.

The expression “polypeptide-based” when used here in the context of a shuttle agent of the present description, is intended to distinguish the presently described shuttle agents from non-polypeptide or non-protein-based shuttle agents such as lipid- or cationic polymer-based transduction agents, which are often associated with increased cellular toxicity and may not be suitable for use in human therapy.

As used herein, the expression “increasing transduction efficiency” refers to the ability of a shuttle agent (e.g., a polypeptide-based shuttle agent of the present description) to improve the percentage or proportion of a population of target cells into which a cargo of interest (e.g., a polypeptide cargo) is delivered intracellularly across the plasma membrane. Immunofluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, and other suitable methods may be used to assess cargo transduction efficiency. In some embodiments, a shuttle agent of the present description may enable a transduction efficiency of at least 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, or 85%, for example as measure by immunofluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, FACS, and other suitable methods. In some embodiments, a shuttle agent of the present description may enable one of the aforementioned transduction efficiencies together wish a cell viability of at least 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, or 95%, for example as measure by the assay described in Example 3.3a, or by another suitable assay known in the art.

As used herein, the term “independent” is generally intended refer to molecules or agents which are not covalently bound to one another. For example, the expression “independent polypeptide cargo” is intended to refer to a polypeptide cargo to be delivered intracellularly that is not covalently bound (e.g., not fused) to a shuttle agent of the present description. In some aspects, having shuttle agents that are independent of (not fused to) a polypeptide cargo may be advantageous by providing increased shuttle agent versatility—e.g., not being required to re-engineer a new fusion protein for different polypeptide cargoes, and/or being able to readily vary the ratio of shuttle agent to cargo (as opposed to being limited to a 1:1 ratio in the case of a fusion protein).

In addition to increasing target cell transduction efficiency, shuttle agents of the present description may facilitate the delivery of a cargo of interest (e.g., a polypeptide cargo) to the cytosol of target cells. In this regard, efficiently delivering an extracellular cargo to the cytosol of a target cell using approaches based on cell penetrating peptides can be challenging, as the cargo often becomes trapped in intracellular endosomes after crossing the plasma membrane, which may limit its intracellular availability and may result in its eventual metabolic degradation. For example, use of the protein transduction domain from the HIV-1 Tat protein has been reported to result in massive sequestration of the cargo into intracellular vesicles. In some aspects, shuttle agents of the present description may facilitate the ability of endosomally-trapped cargo to escape from the endosome and gain access to the cytoplasmic compartment. In this regard, the expression “to the cytosol” in the phrase “increasing the transduction efficiency of an independent polypeptide cargo to the cytosol,” is intended to refer to the ability of shuttle agents of the present description to allow an intracellularly delivered cargo of interest to escape endosomal entrapment and gain access to the cytoplasmic compartment. After a cargo of interest has gained access to the cytosol, it may be subsequently targeted to various subcellular compartments (e.g., nucleus, nucleolus, mitochondria, peroxisome). In some embodiments, the expression “to the cytosol” is thus intended to encompass not only cytosolic delivery, but also delivery to other subcellular compartments that first require the cargo to gain access to the cytoplasmic compartment.

As used herein, a “domain” or “protein domain” generally refers to a part of a protein having a particular functionality or function. Some domains conserve their function when separated from the rest of the protein, and thus can be used in a modular fashion. By combining such domains from different proteins of viral, bacterial, or eukaryotic origin, it becomes possible in accordance with the present description to not only design multi-domain polypeptide-based shuttle agents that are able to deliver a cargo intracellularly, but also enable the cargo to escape endosomes and reach the cytoplasmic compartment.

The modular characteristic of many protein domains can provide flexibility in terms of their placement within the shuttle agents of the present description. However, some domains may perform better when engineered at certain positions of the shuttle agent (e.g., at the N- or C-terminal region, or therebetween). The position of the domain within its endogenous protein is sometimes an indicator of where the domain should be engineered within the shuttle agent, and of what type/length of linker should be used. Standard recombinant DNA techniques can be used by the skilled person to manipulate the placement and/or number of the domains within the shuttle agents of the present description in view of the present disclosure. Furthermore, assays disclosed herein, as well as others known in the art, can be used to assess the functionality of each of the domains within the context of the shuttle agents (e.g., their ability to facilitate cell penetration across the plasma membrane, endosome escape, and/or access to the cytosol). Standard methods can also be used to assess whether the domains of the shuttle agent affect the activity of the cargo to be delivered intracellularly. In this regard, the expression “operably linked” as used herein refers to the ability of the domains to carry out their intended function(s) (e.g., cell penetration, endosome escape, and/or subcellular targeting) within the context of the shuttle agents of the present description. For greater clarity, the expression “operably linked” is meant to define a functional connection between two or more domains without being limited to a particular order or distance between same.

In some embodiments, synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle agent of the present description may comprise a minimum length of 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30 amino acid residues and a maximum length of 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, or 150 amino acid residues. In some embodiments, shorter synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle agents are particularly advantageous because they may be more easily synthesized and purified by chemical synthesis approaches, which may be more suitable for clinical use (as opposed to recombinant proteins that must be purified from cellular expression systems). While numbers and ranges in the present description are often listed as multiples of 5, the present description should not be so limited. For example, the maximum length described herein should be understood as also encompassing a length of 36, 37, 38 . . . 51, 62, etc., in the present description, and that their non-listing herein is only for the sake of brevity. The same reasoning applies to the % of identities listed herein (e.g., 86%, 87% . . . 93% . . . ), the percentages of histidine residues, etc.

In some embodiments, synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle agent of the present description may comprise a predicted net charge of at least +5, +6, +7, at least +8, at least +9, at least +10, at least +11, at least +12, at least +13, at least +14, or at least +15 at physiological pH. These positive charges are generally conferred by the greater presence of positively-charged lysine and/or arginine residues, as opposed to negatively charged aspartate and/or glutamate residues.

In some embodiments, synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle agent of the present description may be soluble in aqueous solution (e.g., at physiological pH), which facilitates their use in for example cell culture media to delivery cargoes intracellularly to live cells.

In some embodiments, synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle agent of the present description may comprise or consist of the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 57-59, 66-72, or 82-102, or a functional variant thereof having at least 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81% 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, or 95% identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs: 57-59, 66-72, or 82-102.

In some embodiments, synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle agents of the present description may comprise oligomers (e.g., dimers, trimers, etc.) of a synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle agent as defined herein. Such oligomers may be constructed by covalently binding the same or different types of shuttle agent monomers (e.g., using disulfide bridges to link cysteine residues introduced into the monomer sequences).

In some embodiments, the synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle agent of the present description may comprise an N-terminal and/or a C-terminal cysteine residue.

Endosome Leakage Domains (ELDs)

In some aspects, synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle agents of the present description may comprise an endosome leakage domain (ELD) for facilitating endosome escape and access to the cytoplasmic compartment. As used herein, the expression “endosome leakage domain” refers to a sequence of amino acids which confers the ability of endosomally-trapped macromolecules to gain access to the cytoplasmic compartment. Without being bound by theory, endosome leakage domains are short sequences (often derived from viral or bacterial peptides), which are believed to induce destabilization of the endosomal membrane and liberation of the endosome contents into the cytoplasm. As used herein, the expression “endosomolytic peptide” is intended to refer to this general class of peptides having endosomal membrane-destabilizing properties. Accordingly, in some embodiments, synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle agents of the present description may comprise an ELD which is an endosomolytic peptide. The activity of such peptides may be assessed for example using the calcein endosome escape assays described in Example 2.

In some embodiments, the ELD may be a peptide that disrupts membranes at acidic pH, such as pH-dependent membrane active peptide (PMAP) or a pH-dependent lytic peptide. For example, the peptides GALA and INF-7 are amphiphilic peptides that form alpha helixes when a drop in pH modifies the charge of the amino acids which they contain. More particularly, without being bound by theory, it is suggested that ELDs such as GALA induce endosomal leakage by forming pores and flip-flop of membrane lipids following conformational change due to a decrease in pH (Kakudo, Chaki et al., 2004, Li, Nicol et al., 2004). In contrast, it is suggested that ELDs such as INF-7 induce endosomal leakage by accumulating in and destabilizing the endosomal membrane (El-Sayed, Futaki et al., 2009). Accordingly in the course of endosome maturation, the concomitant decline in pH causes a change in the conformation of the peptide and this destabilizes the endosome membrane leading to the liberation of the endosome contents. The same principle is thought to apply to the toxin A of Pseudomonas (Varkouhi, Scholte et al., 2011). Following a decline in pH, the conformation of the domain of translocation of the toxin changes, allowing its insertion into the endosome membrane where it forms pores (London 1992, O'Keefe 1992). This eventually favors endosome destabilization and translocation of the complex outside of the endosome. The above described ELDs are encompassed within the ELDs of the present description, as well as other mechanisms of endosome leakage whose mechanisms of action may be less well defined.

In some embodiments, the ELD may be an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) such as a linear cationic alpha-helical antimicrobial peptide (AMP). These peptides play a key role in the innate immune response due to their ability to strongly interact with bacterial membranes. Without being bound by theory, these peptides are thought to assume a disordered state in aqueous solution, but adopt an alpha-helical secondary structure in hydrophobic environments. The latter conformation thought to contribute to their typical concentration-dependent membrane-disrupting properties. When accumulated in endosomes at a certain concentrations, some antimicrobial peptides may induce endosomal leakage.

In some embodiments, the ELD may be an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) such as Cecropin-A/Melittin hybrid (CM series) peptide. Such peptides are thought to be among the smallest and most effective AMP-derived peptides with membrane-disrupting ability. Cecropins are a family of antimicrobial peptides with membrane-perturbing abilities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Cecropin A (CA), the first identified antibacterial peptide, is composed of 37 amino acids with a linear structure. Melittin (M), a peptide of 26 amino acids, is a cell membrane lytic factor found in bee venom. Cecropin-melittin hybrid peptides have been shown to produce short efficient antibiotic peptides without cytotoxicity for eukaryotic cells (i.e., non-hemolytic), a desirable property in any antibacterial agent. These chimeric peptides were constructed from various combinations of the hydrophilic N-terminal domain of Cecropin A with the hydrophobic N-terminal domain of Melittin, and have been tested on bacterial model systems. Two 26-mers, CA(1-13)M(1-13) and CA(1-8) M(1-18) (Boman et al., 1989), have been shown to demonstrate a wider spectrum and improved potency of natural Cecropin A without the cytotoxic effects of melittin.

In an effort to produce shorter CM series peptides, the authors of Andreu et al., 1992 constructed hybrid peptides such as the 26-mer (CA(1-8)M(1-18)), and compared them with a 20-mer (CA(1-8)M(1-12)), a 18-mer (CA(1-8)M(1-10)) and six 15-mers ((CA(1-7)M(1-8), CA(1-7)M(2-9), CA(1-7)M(3-10), CA(1-7)M(4-11), CA(1-7)M(5-12), and CA(1-7)M(6-13)). The 20 and 18-mers maintained similar activity comparatively to CA(1-8)M(1-18). Among the six 15-mers, CA(1-7)M(1-8) showed low antibacterial activity, but the other five showed similar antibiotic potency compared to the 26-mer without hemolytic effect. Accordingly, in some embodiments, synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle agents of the present description may comprise an ELD which is or is from CM series peptide variants, such as those described above.

In some embodiments, the ELD may be the CM series peptide CM18 composed of residues 1-7 of Cecropin-A (KWKLFKKIGAVLKVLTTG) fused to residues 2-12 of Melittin (YGRKKRRQRRR), [C(1-7)M(2-12)]. When fused to the cell penetrating peptide TAT, CM18 was shown to independently cross the plasma membrane and destabilize the endosomal membrane, allowing some endosomally-trapped cargos to be released to the cytosol (Salomone et al., 2012). However, the use of a CM18-TAT11 peptide fused to a fluorophore (atto-633) in some of the author's experiments, raises uncertainty as to the contribution of the peptide versus the fluorophore, as the use of fluorophores themselves have been shown to contribute to endosomolysis—e.g., via photochemical disruption of the endosomal membrane (Erazo-Oliveras et al., 2014).

In some embodiments, the ELD may be CM18 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or a variant thereof having at least 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, or 95% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 and having endosomolytic activity.

In some embodiments, the ELD may be a peptide derived from the N terminus of the HA2 subunit of influenza hemagglutinin (HA), which may also cause endosomal membrane destabilization when accumulated in the endosome.

In some embodiments, synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle agents of the present description may comprise an ELD which is or is from an ELD set forth in Table A, or a variant thereof having endosome escape activity and/or pH-dependent membrane disrupting activity.

TABLE A Examples of endosome leakage domains Amino acid SEQ Name sequence ID NO: Reference(s) CM18 KWKLFKKIGAVL  1 (Salomone, KVLTTG Cardarelli et al., 2012) Diphtheria VGSSLSCINLDW  2 (Uherek,  toxin T DVIRDKTKTKIE Fominaya et domain (DT) SLKEHGPIKNKM al., 1998,  SESPNKTVSEEK Glover, Ng AKQYLEEFHQTA et al., 2009) LEHPELSELKTV TGTNPVFAGANY AAWAVNVAQVID SETADNLEKTTA ALSILPGIGSVM GIADGAVHHNTE EIVAQSIALSSL MVAQAIPLVGEL VDIGFAAYNFVE SIINLFQVVHNS YNRPAYSPG GALA WEAALAEALAEA  3 (Parente, Nir LAEHLAEALAEA et al., 1990) LEALAA (Li, Nicol et al., 2004) PEA VLAGNPAKHDLD  4 (Fominaya and IKPTVISHRLHF Wels 1996) PEGGSLAALTAH QACHLPLETFTR HRQPRGWEQLEQ CGYPVQRLVALY LAARLSWNQVDQ VIRNALASPGSG GDLGEAIREQPE QARLALT INF-7 GLFEAIEGFIEN  5 (EI-Sayed, GWEGMIDGWYGC Futaki et al., 2009) LAH4 KKALLALALHHL  6 (Kichler, Mason AHLALHLALALK et al., 2006) KA Kichler et al., 2003 HGP LLGRRGWEVLKY  7 (Zhang, Cui et WWNLLQYWSQEL al., 2006) H5WYG GLFHAIAHFIHG  8 (Midoux, GWHGLIHGWYG Kichler et al., 1998) HA2 GLFGAIAGFIEN  9 (Lorieau, Louis GWEGMIDGWYG et al., 2010) EB1 LIRLWSHLIHIW 10 (Amend, Norden FQNRRLKWKKK et al., 2012) VSVG KFTIVFPHNQKG 11 (Schuster, NWKNVPSNYHYC Wu et al., P 1999) Pseudomonas EGGSLAALTAHQ 12 (Fominaya, toxin ACHLPLETFTRH Uherek et al., RQPRGWEQLEQC 1998) GYPVQRLVALYL AARLSWNQVDQV IRNALASPGSGG DLGEAIREQPEQ ARLALTLAAAES ERFVRQGTGNDE AGAANAD Melittin GIGAVLKVLTTG 13 (Tan, Chen et LPALISWIKRKR al., 2012) QQ KALA WEAKLAKALAKA 14 (Wyman, Nicol LAKHLAKALAKA et al., 1997) LKACEA JST-1 GLFEALLELLES 15 (Gottschalk, LWELLLEA Sparrow et al., 1996) C(LLKK)₃C CLLKKLLKKLLK 63 (Luan et al., KC 2014) G(LLKK)₃G GLLKKLLKKLLK 64 (Luan et al., KG 2014)

In some embodiments, shuttle agents of the present description may comprise one or more ELD or type of ELD. More particularly, they can comprise at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, or more ELDs. In some embodiments, the shuttle agents can comprise between 1 and 10 ELDs, between 1 and 9 ELDs, between 1 and 8 ELDs, between 1 and 7 ELDs, between 1 and 6 ELDs, between 1 and 5 ELDs, between 1 and 4 ELDs, between 1 and 3 ELDs, etc.

In some embodiments, the order or placement of the ELD relative to the other domains (CPD, histidine-rich domains) within the shuttle agents of the present description may be varied provided the shuttling ability of the shuttle agent is retained.

In some embodiments, the ELD may be a variant or fragment of any one those listed in Table A, and having endosomolytic activity. In some embodiments, the ELD may comprise or consist of the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-15, 63, or 64, or a sequence which is at least 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, or 95% identical to any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-15, 63, or 64, and having endosomolytic activity.

Cell Penetration Domains (CPDs)

In some aspects, the shuttle agents of the present description may comprise a cell penetration domain (CPD). As used herein, the expression “cell penetration domain” refers to a sequence of amino acids which confers the ability of a macromolecule (e.g., peptide or protein) containing the CPD to be transduced into a cell.

In some embodiments, the CPD may be (or may be from) a cell-penetrating peptide or the protein transduction domain of a cell-penetrating peptide. Cell-penetrating peptides can serve as carriers to successfully deliver a variety of cargos intracellularly (e.g., polynucleotides, polypeptides, small molecule compounds or other macromolecules/compounds that are otherwise membrane-impermeable). Cell-penetrating peptides often include short peptides rich in basic amino acids that, once fused (or otherwise operably linked) to a macromolecule, mediate its internalization inside cells (Shaw, Catchpole et al., 2008). The first cell-penetrating peptide was identified by analyzing the cell penetration ability of the HIV-1 trans-activator of transcription (Tat) protein (Green and Loewenstein 1988, Vives, Brodin et al., 1997). This protein contains a short hydrophilic amino acid sequence, named “TAT”, which promotes its insertion within the plasma membrane and the formation of pores. Since this discovery, many other cell-penetrating peptides have been described. In this regard, in some embodiments, the CPD can be a cell-penetrating peptide as listed in Table B, or a variant thereof having cell-penetrating activity.

TABLE B Examples of cell-penetrating peptides Amino acid SEQ Name sequence ID NO: Reference(s) SP AAVALLPAVL 16 (Mahlum, Mandel LALLAP et al., 2007) TAT YGRKKRRQRR 17 (Green and R Loewenstein 1988, Fawell, Seery et al., 1994, Vives, Brodin et al., 1997) Penetratin RQIKIWFQNR 18 (Perez, Joliot et (Antennapedia) RMKWKK al., 1992) pVEC LLIILRRRIR 19 (Elmquist,  KQAHAHSK Lindgren et al., 2001) M918 MVTVLFRRLR 20 (El-Andaloussi, IRRACGPPRV Johansson et RV al., 2007) Pep-1 KETWWETWWT 21 (Morris, EWSQPKKKRK Depollier V et al., 2001) Pep-2 KETWFETWFT 22 (Morris, Chaloin EWSQPKKKRK et al., 2004) V Xentry LCLRPVG 23 (Montrose, Yang et al., 2013) Arginine RRRRRRRRR 24 (Zhou, Wu et stretch al., 2009) Transportan WTLNSAGYLL 25 (Hallbrink, GKINLKALAA Floren et al., LAKKIL 2001) SynB1 RGGRLSYSRR 26 (Drin, Cottin RFSTSTGR et al., 2003) SynB3 RRLSYSRRRF 27 (Drin, Cottin et al., 2003) PTD4 YARAAARQAR 65 (Ho et al, 2001) A

Without being bound by theory, cell-penetrating peptides are thought to interact with the cell plasma membrane before crossing by pinocytosis or endocytosis. In the case of the TAT peptide, its hydrophilic nature and charge are thought to promote its insertion within the plasma membrane and the formation of a pore (Herce and Garcia 2007). Alpha helix motifs within hydrophobic peptides (such as SP) are also thought to form pores within plasma membranes (Veach, Liu et al., 2004).

In some embodiments, shuttle agents of the present description may comprise one or more CPD or type of CPD. More particularly, they may comprise at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, or at least 5 or more CPDs. In some embodiments, the shuttle agents can comprise between 1 and 10 CPDs, between 1 and 6 CPDs, between 1 and 5 CPDs, between 1 and 4 CPDs, between 1 and 3 CPDs, etc.

In some embodiments, the CPD may be TAT having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 17, or a variant thereof having at least 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81% 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, or 95% identity to SEQ ID NO: 17 and having cell penetrating activity; or Penetratin having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18, or a variant thereof having at least 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81% 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, or 95% identity to SEQ ID NO: 18 and having cell penetrating activity.

In some embodiments, the CPD may be PTD4 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 65, or a variant thereof having at least 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81% 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, or 95% identity to SEQ ID NO: 65.

In some embodiments, the order or placement of the CPD relative to the other domains (ELD, histidine-rich domains) within the shuttle agents of the present description may be varied provided the shuttling ability of the shuttle agent is retained.

In some embodiments, the CPD may be a variant or fragment of any one those listed in Table B, and having cell penetrating activity. In some embodiments, the CPD may comprise or consist of the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 16-27 or 65, or a sequence which is at least 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, or 95% identical to any one of SEQ ID NOs: 16-27 or 65, and having cell penetrating activity.

Histidine-rich Domains

In some aspects, the shuttle agents of the present description may comprise a histidine-rich domain. In other embodiments, the shuttle agents of the present description may be combined/used together with a further independent synthetic peptide comprising or consisting essentially of a histidine-rich domain and a CPD (e.g., but lacking an ELD). This latter approach may provide the added advantage of allowing the concentration of the histidine-rich domain to be varied or controlled independently from the concentration of the ELD and the CPD contained in the shuttle agent. Without being bound by theory, the histidine-rich domain may act as a proton sponge in the endosome, providing another mechanism of endosomal membrane destabilization.

In some embodiments, the histidine-rich domain may be a stretch of at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, or at least 6 amino acids comprising at least 30%, at least 35%, at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, or at least 90% histidine residues. In some embodiments, the histidine-rich domain may comprise at least 2, at least 3, at least 4 at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, at least 8, or at least 9 consecutive histidine residues. Without being bound by theory, the histidine-rich domain in the shuttle agent may act as a proton sponge in the endosome through protonation of their imidazole groups under acidic conditions of the endosomes, providing another mechanism of endosomal membrane destabilization and thus further facilitating the ability of endosomally-trapped cargos to gain access to the cytosol. In some embodiments, the histidine-rich domain may be located at the N or C terminus of the synthetic peptide or shuttle agent. In some embodiments, the histidine-rich domain may be located N-terminal or C terminal to the CPD and/or ELD.

In some embodiments, the order or placement of the histidine-rich domain relative to the other domains (CPD, ELD) within the shuttle agents of the present description may be varied provided the shuttling ability of the shuttle agent is retained. In some embodiments, the shuttle agents of the present description may comprise more than one histidine-rich domain (e.g., histidine-rich domains at the amino and carboxyl termini).

Linkers

In some embodiments, suitable linkers (e.g., flexible polypeptide linkers) can be used to operably connect the domains (CPDs, ELDs, or histidine-rich domains) to one another within the context of synthetic peptides and shuttle agents of the present description. In some embodiments, linkers may be formed by adding sequences of small hydrophobic amino acids without rotatory potential (such as glycine) and polar serine residues that confer stability and flexibility. Linkers may be soft and allow the domains of the shuttle agents to move. In some embodiments, prolines may be avoided since they can add significant conformational rigidity. In some embodiments, the linkers may be serine/glycine-rich linkers (e.g., GGS, GGSGGGS, GGSGGGSGGGS, or the like). In some embodiments, the use shuttle agents comprising a suitable linker may be advantageous for delivering an independent polypeptide cargo to suspension cells, rather than to adherent cells.

Cargos

In some aspects, the synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle agent of the present description may be useful for delivering an independent cargo (e.g., a polypeptide cargo) to the cytosol of a target eukaryotic cell. In some embodiments, the polypeptide cargo may be fused to one or more CPDs to further facilitate intracellular delivery. In some embodiments, the CPD fused to the polypeptide cargo may be the same or different from the CPD of the shuttle agent of the present description. Such fusion proteins may be constructed using standard recombinant technology. In some embodiments, the independent polypeptide cargo may be fused, complexed with, or covalently bound to a second biologically active cargo (e.g., a biologically active polypeptide or compound). Alternatively or simultaneously, the polypeptide cargo may comprise a subcellular targeting domain.

In some embodiments, the polypeptide cargo must be delivered to the nucleus for it to carry out its intended biological effect. One such example is when the cargo is a polypeptide intended for nuclear delivery (e.g., a transcription factor). In this regard, studies on the mechanisms of translocation of viral DNA have led to the identification of nuclear localization signals (NLSs). The NLS sequences are recognized by proteins (importins α and β), which act as transporters and mediators of translocation across the nuclear envelope. NLSs are generally enriched in charged amino acids such as arginine, histidine, and lysine, conferring a positive charge which is partially responsible for their recognition by importins. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the polypeptide cargo may comprise an NLS for facilitating nuclear delivery, such as one or more of the NLSs as listed in Table C, or a variant thereof having nuclear targeting activity. Of course, it is understood that, in certain embodiments, the polypeptide cargo may comprise its natural NLS.

TABLE C Nuclear localization signals Amino acid SEQ Name sequence ID NO: Reference(s) E1a KRPRP 28 (Kohler, Gorlich et al., 2001) SV40 T-Ag PKKKRKV 29 (Lanford, Kanda et al., 1986) c-myc PAAKRVKLD 30 (Makkerh, Dingwall et al., 1996) Op-T-NLS SSDDEATADS 31 (Chan and Jans QHAAPPKKKR 1999) KV Vp3 KKKRK 32 (Nakanishi, Shum et al., 2002) Nucleo- KRPAATKKAG 33 (Fanara, Hodel plasmin QAKKKK et al., 2000) Histone DGKKRKRSRK 34 (Moreland, 2B NLS Langevin et al., 1987) Xenopus N1 VRKKRKTEEE 35 (Kleinschmidt SPLKDKDAKK and Seiter 1988) SKQE PARP KRKGDEVDGV 36 (Schreiber, DECAKKSKK Molinete et al., 1992) PDX-1 RRMKWKK 37 (Moede, Leibiger et al., 1999) QKI-5 RVHPYQR 38 (Wu, Zhou et al., 1999) HCDA KRPACTLKPE 39 (Somasekaram, CVQQLLVCSQ Jarmuz EAKK et al., 1999) H2B GKKRSKA 40 (Moreland, Langevin et al., 1987) v-Rel KAKRQR 41 (Gilmore and Temin 1988) Amida RKRRR 42 (Me, Yamagata et al., 2000) RanBP3 PPVKRERTS 43 (Welch, Franke et al., 1999) Pho4p PYLNKRKGKP 44 (Welch, Franke et al., 1999) LEF-1 KKKKRKREK 45 (Prieve and Waterman 1999) TCF-1 KKKRRSREK 46 (Prieve and Waterman 1999) BDV-P PRPRKIPR 47 (Shoya, Kobayashi et al., 1998) TR2 KDCVINKHHR 48 (Yu, Lee et al., NRCQYCRLQR 1998) SOX9 PRRRK 49 (Sudbeck and Scherer 1997) Max PQSRKKLR 50 (Kato, Lee et al., 1992)

Once delivered to the cytoplasm, recombinant proteins are exposed to protein trafficking system of eukaryotic cells. Indeed, all proteins are synthetized in the cell's cytoplasm and are then redistributed to their final subcellular localization by a system of transport based on small amino acid sequences recognized by shuttle proteins (Karniely and Pines 2005, Stojanovski, Bohnert et al., 2012). In addition to NLSs, other localization sequences can mediate subcellular targeting to various organelles following intracellular delivery of the polypeptide cargos of the present description. Accordingly, in some embodiments, polypeptide cargos of the present description may comprise a subcellular localization signal for facilitating delivery of the shuttle agent and cargo to specific organelles, such as one or more of the sequences as listed in Table D, or a variant thereof having corresponding subcellular targeting activity.

TABLE D Subcellular localization signals Amino acid SEQ Name sequence ID NO: Reference(s) Mitochondrial NLVERCFTD 51 (Milenkovic, signal sequence Ramming et al., from Tim9 2009) Mitochondrial MLSLRQSIRF 52 (Hurt,  signal sequence FK Pesold-Hurt et from Yeast  al., 1985) cytochrome c  oxidase subunit IV Mitochondrial MLISRCKWSR 53 (Bejarano and signal sequence FPGNQR Gonzalez 1999) from 18S rRNA Peroxisome  SKL 54 (Gould, Keller signal sequence- et al., 1989) PTS1 Nucleolar MQRKPTIRRK 55 (Scott, Boisvert signal sequence NLRLRRK et al., 2010) from BIRC5 Nucleolar KQAWKQKWRK 56 (Scott, Boisvert signal sequence K et al., 2010) from RECQL4

In some embodiments, the cargo can be a biologically active compound such as a biologically active (recombinant) polypeptide (e.g., a transcription factor, a cytokine, or a nuclease) intended for intracellular delivery. As used herein, the expression “biologically active” refers to the ability of a compound to mediate a structural, regulatory, and/or biochemical function when introduced in a target cell.

In some embodiments, the cargo may be a recombinant polypeptide intended for nuclear delivery, such as a transcription factor. In some embodiments, the transcription factor can be HOXB4 (Lu, Feng et al., 2007), NUP98-HOXA9 (Takeda, Goolsby et al., 2006), Oct3/4, Sox2, Sox9, Klf4, c-Myc (Takahashi and Yamanaka 2006), MyoD (Sung, Mun et al., 2013), Pdx1, Ngn3 and MafA (Akinci, Banga et al., 2012), Blimp-1 (Lin, Chou et al., 2013), Eomes, T-bet (Gordon, Chaix et al., 2012), FOXO3A (Warr, Binnewies et al., 2013), NF-YA (Dolfini, Minuzzo et al., 2012), SALL4 (Aguila, Liao et al., 2011), ISL1 (Fonoudi, Yeganeh et al., 2013), FoxA1 (Tan, Xie et al., 2010), Nanog, Esrrb, Lin28 (Buganim et al., 2014), HIF1-alpha (Lord-Dufour et al., 2009), Hlf, Runx1t1, Pbx1, Lmo2, Zfp37, Prdm5 (Riddell et al., 2014), or Bcl-6 (Ichii, Sakamoto et al., 2004).

In some embodiments, the cargo may be a recombinant polypeptide intended for nuclear delivery, such as a nuclease useful for genome editing technologies. In some embodiments, the nuclease may be an RNA-guided endonuclease, a CRISPR endonuclease, a type I CRISPR endonuclease, a type II CRISPR endonuclease, a type III CRISPR endonuclease, a type IV CRISPR endonuclease, a type V CRISPR endonuclease, a type VI CRISPR endonuclease CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9), Cpf1 (Zetsche et al., 2015), a zinc-finger nuclease (ZFN), a Transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN) (Cox et al., 2015), a homing endonuclease, a meganuclease, or any combination thereof. Other nucleases not explicitly mentioned here may nevertheless be encompassed in the present description. In some embodiments, the nuclease may be fused to a nuclear localization signal (e.g., Cas9-NLS; Cpf1-NLS; ZFN-NLS; TALEN-NLS). In some embodiments, the nuclease may be complexed with a nucleic acid (e.g., one or more guide RNAs, a crRNA, a tracrRNAs, or both a crRNA and a tracrRNA). In some embodiments, the nuclease may possess DNA or RNA-binding activity, but may lack the ability to cleave DNA.

In some embodiments, the shuttle agents of the present description may be used for intracellular delivery (e.g., nuclear delivery) of one or more CRISPR endonucleases, for example one or more of the CRISPR endonucleases described below.

Type I and its subtypes A, B, C, D, E, F and I, including their respective Cas1, Cas2, Cas3, Cas4, Cas6, Cas7 and Cas8 proteins, and the signature homologs and subunits of these Cas proteins including Cse1, Cse2, Cas7, Cas5, and Cas6e subunits in E. coli (type I-E) and Csy1, Csy2, Csy3, and Cas6f in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (type I-F) (Wiedenheft et al., 2011; Makarova et al, 2011). Type II and its subtypes A, B, C, including their respective Cas1, Cas2 and Cas9 proteins, and the signature homologs and subunits of these Cas proteins including Csn complexes (Makarova et al, 2011). Type III and its subtypes A, B and MTH326-like module, including their respective Cas1, Cas2, Cas6 and Cas10 proteins, and the signature homologs and subunits of these Cas proteins including Csm and CMR complexes (Makarova et al, 2011). Type IV represents the Csf3 family of Cas proteins. Members of this family show up near CRISPR repeats in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 23270, Azoarcus sp. (strain EbN1), and Rhodoferax ferrireducens (strain DSM 15236/ATCC BAA-621/T118). In the latter two species, the CRISPR/Cas locus is found on a plasmid. Type V and it subtypes have only recently been discovered and include Cpf1, C2c1, and C2c3. Type VI includes the enzyme C2c2, which reported shares little homology to known sequences.

In some embodiments, the shuttle agents of the present description may be used in conjunction with one or more of the nucleases, endonucleases, RNA-guided endonuclease, CRISPR endonuclease described above, for a variety of applications, such as those described herein. CRISPR systems interact with their respective nucleic acids, such as DNA binding, RNA binding, helicase, and nuclease motifs (Marakova et al, 2011; Barrangou & Marraffini, 2014). CRISPR systems may be used for different genome editing applications including:

-   -   a Cas-mediated genome editing method conducting to         non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) and/or Homologous-directed         recombination (HDR) (Gong et al, 2013);     -   a catalytically dead Cas (dCas) that can repress and/or activate         transcription initiation when bound to promoter sequences, to         one or several gRNA(s) and to a RNA polymerase with or without a         complex formation with others protein partners (Bikard et al,         2013);     -   a catalytically dead Cas (dCas) that can also be fused to         different functional proteins domains as a method to bring         enzymatic activities at specific sites of the genome including         transcription repression, transcription activation, chromatin         remodeling, fluorescent reporter, histone modification,         recombinase system acetylation, methylation, ubiquitylation,         phosphorylation, sumoylation, ribosylation and citrullination         (Gilbert et al, 2013).

The person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the present shuttle agents, although exemplified with Cas9 in the present examples, may be used with other nucleases as described herein. Thus, nucleases such as Cpf1, Cas9, and variants of such nucleases or others, are encompassed by the present description. It should be understood that, in one aspect, the present description may broadly cover any cargo having nuclease activity, such an RNA-guided endonuclease, or variants thereof (e.g., those that can bind to DNA or RNA, but have lost their nuclease activity; or those that have been fused to a transcription factor).

In some embodiments, the polypeptide cargo may be a cytokine such as a chemokine, an interferon, an interleukin, a lymphokine, or a tumour necrosis factor. In some embodiments, the polypeptide cargo may be a hormone or growth factor. In some embodiments, the cargo may be an antibody (e.g., a labelled antibody). In some embodiments, the cargo can be a detectable label (fluorescent polypeptide or reporter enzyme) that is intended for intracellular delivery, for example, for research and/or diagnostic purposes.

In some embodiments, the cargo may be a globular protein or a fibrous protein. In some embodiments, the cargo may have a molecule weight of any one of about 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, to 50 to about 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500 kDa or more. In some embodiments, the cargo may have a molecule weight of between about 20 to 200 kDa.

Non-toxic, Metabolizable Synthetic Peptides and Shuttle Agents

In some embodiments, synthetic peptides and shuttle agents of the present description may be non-toxic to the intended target eukaryotic cells at concentrations up to 50 μM, 45 μM, 40 μM, 35 μM, 30 μM, 25 μM, 20 μM, 15 μM, 10 μM, 9 μM, 8 μM, 7 μM, 6 μM, 5 μM, 4 μM, 3 μM, 2 μM, 1 μM, 0.5 μMm 0.1 μM, or 0.05 μM. Cellular toxicity of shuttle agents of the present description may be measured using any suitable method. Furthermore, transduction protocols may be adapted (e.g., concentrations of shuttle and/or cargo used, shuttle/cargo exposure times, exposure in the presence or absence of serum), to reduce or minimize toxicity of the shuttle agents, and/or to improve/maximize transfection efficiency.

In some embodiments, synthetic peptides and shuttle agents of the present description may be readily metabolizable by intended target eukaryotic cells. For example, the synthetic peptides and shuttle agents may consist entirely or essentially of peptides or polypeptides, for which the target eukaryotic cells possess the cellular machinery to metabolize/degrade. Indeed, the intracellular half-life of the synthetic peptides and polypeptide-based shuttle agents of the present description is expected to be much lower than the half-life of foreign organic compounds such as fluorophores. However, fluorophores can be toxic and must be investigated before they can be safely used clinically (Alford et al., 2009). In some embodiments, synthetic peptides and shuttle agents of the present description may be suitable for clinical use. In some embodiments, the synthetic peptides and shuttle agents of the present description may avoid the use of domains or compounds for which toxicity is uncertain or has not been ruled out.

Cocktails

In some embodiments, the present description relates to a composition comprising a cocktail of at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, or at least 5 different types of the synthetic peptides or polypeptide-based shuttle agents as defined herein. In some embodiments, combining different types of synthetic peptides or polypeptide-based shuttle agents (e.g., different shuttle agents comprising different types of CPDs) may provide increased versatility for delivering different polypeptide cargos intracellularly. Furthermore, without being bound by theory, combining lower concentrations of different types of shuttle agents may help reduce cellular toxicity associated with using a single type of shuttle agent (e.g., at higher concentrations).

Methods, Kits, Uses and Cells

In some embodiments, the present description relates to a method for increasing the transduction efficiency of a polypeptide cargo to the cytosol of a target eukaryotic cell. The method may comprise contacting the target eukaryotic cell with the synthetic peptide, polypeptide-based shuttle agent, or composition as defined herein, and the polypeptide cargo. In some embodiments, the synthetic peptide, polypeptide-based shuttle agent, or composition may be pre-incubated with the polypeptide cargo to form a mixture, prior to exposing the target eukaryotic cell to that mixture. In some embodiments, the type of CPD may be selected based on the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide cargo to be delivered intracellularly. In other embodiments, the type of CPD and ELD may be selected to take into account the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide cargo to be delivered intracellularly, the type of cell, the type of tissue, etc.

In some embodiments, the method may comprise multiple treatments of the target cells with the synthetic peptide, polypeptide-based shuttle agent, or composition (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4 or more times per day, and/or on a predetermined schedule). In such cases, lower concentrations of the synthetic peptide, polypeptide-based shuttle agent, or composition may be advisable (e.g., for reduced toxicity). In some embodiments, the cells may be suspension cells or adherent cells. In some embodiments, the person of skill in the art will be able to adapt the teachings of the present description using different combinations of shuttles, domains, uses and methods to suit particular needs of delivering a polypeptide cargo to particular cells with a desired viability.

In some embodiments, the methods of the present description may apply to methods of delivering a polypeptide cargo intracellularly to a cell in vivo. Such methods may be accomplished by parenteral administration or direct injection into a tissue, organ, or system.

In some embodiments, the synthetic peptide, polypeptide-based shuttle agent, or composition, and the polypeptide cargo may be exposed to the target cell in the presence or absence of serum. In some embodiments, the method may be suitable for clinical or therapeutic use.

In some embodiments, the present description relates to a kit for increasing the transduction efficiency of a polypeptide cargo to the cytosol of a target eukaryotic cell. The kit may comprise the synthetic peptide, polypeptide-based shuttle agent, or composition as defined herein, and a suitable container.

In some embodiments, the target eukaryotic cells may be an animal cell, a mammalian cell, or a human cell. In some embodiments, the target eukaryotic cells may be a stem cell (e.g., embryonic stem cells, pluripotent stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, neural stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, peripheral blood stem cells), primary cells (e.g., myoblasts, fibroblasts), or an immune cell (e.g., T cells, dendritic cells, antigen presenting cells). In some embodiments, the present description relates to an isolated cell comprising a synthetic peptide or polypeptide-based shuttle agent as defined herein. In some embodiments, the cell may be a protein-induced pluripotent stem cell. It will be understood that cells that are often resistant or not amenable to protein transduction may be interesting candidates for the synthetic peptides or polypeptide-based shuttle agents of the present description.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present description will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of specific embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Materials and Methods

1.1 Materials

All chemicals were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, Mo., USA or Oakville, ON, Canada) or equivalent grade from BioShop Canada Inc. (Mississauga, ON, Canada) or VWR (Ville Mont-Royal, QC, Canada), unless otherwise noted.

1.2 Reagents

TABLE 1.1 Reagents Material Company City, Province-State, Country RPMI 1640 media Sigma-Aldrich Oakville, ON, Canada DMEM Sigma-Aldrich Oakville, ON, Canada Fetal bovine serum (FBS) NorthBio Toronto, ON, Canada L-glutamine-Penicillin-Streptomycin Sigma-Aldrich Oakville, ON, Canada Trypsin-EDTA solution Sigma-Aldrich Oakville, ON, Canada pEGFP-C1 CLONTECH Laboratories Palo Alto, CA, USA FITC-Antibody α-tubulin Abcam ab64503 Cambridge, MA, USA ITS Invitrogen/41400-045 Burlington, ON, Canada FGF 2 Feldan Bio/1D-07-017 Quebec, QC, Canada Dexamethasone Sigma-Aldrich/D8893 Oakville, ON, Canada Bovine serum albumin (BSA) Sigma-Aldrich/A-1933 Oakville, ON, Canada MB1 media GE Healthcare HyClone Logan, Utah, USA Calcein Sigma-Aldrich/C0875 Oakville, ON, Canada HisTrap ™ FF column GE Healthcare Baie d'Urfe, QC, Canada Q Sepharose ™ GE Healthcare Baie d'Urfe, QC, Canada SP Sepharose ™ GE Healthcare Baie d'Urfe, QC, Canada Amicon Ultra centrifugal filters EMD Millipore Etobicoke, ON Canada Label IT ® Cy ®5 kit Mirus Bio LLC Madison, WI, USA Calf serum NorthBio Toronto, ON, Canada beta-mercaptoethanol Sigma-Aldrich Oakville, ON, Canada IL-2 Feldan Bio/rhIL-2 Research Quebec, QC, Canada Rezazurine sodium salt Sigma-Aldrich/R7017-1G Oakville, ON, Canada Anti-HOXB4 monoclonal antibody Novus Bio #NBP2-37257 Oakville, ON, Canada Alexa ™-594 Anti-Mouse Abcam #150116 Toronto, ON, Canada Fluoroshield ™ with DAPI Sigma #F6057 Oakville, ON, Canada GFP Monoclonal antibody Feldan Bio #A017 Quebec, QC, Canada Phusion ™ High-Fidelity DNA (NEB #M0530S) Whitby, ON, Canada polymerase Edit-R ™ Synthetic crRNA Positive (Dharmacon #U-007000-05) Ottawa, ON, Canada Controls T7 Endonuclease I (NEB, Cat #M0302S) Whitby, ON, Canada FastFect ™ transfection reagent (Feldan Bio # 9K-010-0001) Quebec, QC, Canada 1.3 Cell Lines

HeLa, HEK293A, HEK293T, THP-1, CHO, NIH3T3, CA46, Balb3T3 and HT2 cells were obtained from American Type Culture Collection (Manassas, Va., USA) and cultured following the manufacturer's instructions. Myoblasts are primary human cells kindly provided by Professor J. P. Tremblay (Université Laval, Quebec, Canada).

TABLE 1.2 Cell lines and culture conditions Cell lines Description ATCC/others Culture media Serum Additives HeLa Human cervical ATCC ™ CCL-2 DMEM 10% FBS L-glutamine 2 mM (adherent carcinoma cells Penicillin 100 units cells) Streptomycin 100 μg/mL HEK 293A Human embryonic ATCC ™ CRL-1573 DMEM 10% FBS L-glutamine 2 mM (adherent Epithelial kidney Penicillin 100 units cells) cells Streptomycin 100 μg/mL HEK 293T Human embryonic ATCC ™ CRL-3216 DMEM 10% FBS L-glutamine 2 mM (adherent Epithelial kidney Penicillin 100 units cells) cells Streptomycin 100 μg/mL THP-1 Acute monocytic ATCC ™ TIB202 RPMI 1640 10% FBS 2-mercaptoethanol 0.05 mM (suspension leukemia L-glutamine 2 mM cells) Penicillin 100 units Streptomycin 100 μg/mL Myoblasts Human (13 Kindly provided by MB1 15% FBS ITS 1x, FGF 2 10 ng/mL, (primary months) myoblasts Professor J P Dexamethasone 0.39 μg/mL, adherent Tremblay BSA 0.5 mg/mL, cells) MB1 85% CHO Chinese hamster ATCC ™ CCL-61 DMEM 10% FBS L-glutamine 2 mM (adherent ovary cells Penicillin 100 units cells) Streptomycin 100 μg/mL NIH3T3 Fibroblasts ATCC ™ CRL-1658 DMEM 10% Calf L-glutamine 2 mM (adherent serum Penicillin 100 units cells) Streptomycin 100 μg/mL HT2 T lymphocytes ATCC ™ CRL-1841 RPMI 1640 10% FBS 200 IU/mL IL-2 (suspension β-mercaptoethanol 0.05 mM cells) L-glutamine 2 mM Penicillin 100 units Streptomycin 100 μg/mL CA46 Homo sapiens ATCC ™ CRL-1648 RPMI 1640 20% FBS L-glutamine 2 mM (suspension Burkitt's lymphoma Penicillin 100 units cells) Streptomycin 100 μg/mL Balb3T3 Fibroblasts ATCC ™ CCL-163 DMEM 10% Calf L-glutamine 2 mM (adherent serum Penicillin 100 units cells) Streptomycin 100 μg/mL Jurkat Human T cells ATCC ™ TIB-152 RPMI 1640 10% FBS L-glutamine 2 mM (suspension Penicillin 100 units cells) Streptomycin 100 μg/mL FBS: Fetal bovine serum 1.4 Protein Purification

Fusion proteins were expressed in bacteria (E. coli BL21DE3) under standard conditions using an isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) inducible vector containing a T5 promoter. Culture media contained 24 g yeast extract, 12 g tryptone, 4 mL glycerol, 2.3 g KH₂PO₄, and 12.5 g K₂HPO₄ per liter. Bacterial broth was incubated at 37° C. under agitation with appropriate antibiotic (e.g., ampicillin). Expression was induced at optical density (600 nm) between 0.5 and 0.6 with a final concentration of 1 mM IPTG for 3 hours at 30° C. Bacteria were recuperated following centrifugation at 5000 RPM and bacterial pellets were stored at −20° C.

Bacterial pellets were resuspended in Tris buffer (Tris 25 mM pH 7.5, NaCl 100 mM, imidazole 5 mM) with phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) 1 mM, and lysed by passing 3 times through the homogenizer Panda 2K™ at 1000 bar. The solution was centrifuged at 15000 RPM, 4° C. for 30 minutes. Supernatants were collected and filtered with a 0.22 μM filtration device.

Solubilized proteins were loaded, using a FPLC (AKTA Explorer 100R), on HisTrap™ FF column previously equilibrated with 5 column volumes (CV) of Tris buffer. The column was washed with 30 column volumes (CV) of Tris buffer supplemented with 0.1% Triton™ X-114 followed with 30 CV of Tris buffer with imidazole 40 mM. Proteins were eluted with 5 CV of Tris buffer with 350 mM Imidazole and collected. Collected fractions corresponding to specific proteins were determined by standard denaturing SDS-PAGE.

Purified proteins were diluted in Tris 20 mM at the desired pH according to the protein's pl and loaded on an appropriate ion exchange column (Q Sepharose™ or SP Sepharose™) previously equilibrated with 5 CV of Tris 20 mM, NaCl 30 mM. The column was washed with 10 CV of Tris 20 mM, NaCl 30 mM and proteins were eluted with a NaCl gradient until 1 M on 15 CV. Collected fractions corresponding to specific proteins were determined by standard denaturing SDS-PAGE. Purified proteins were then washed and concentrated in PBS 1× on Amicon Ultra™ centrifugal filters 10,000 MWCO. Protein concentration was evaluated using a standard Bradford assay.

1.5 Synthetic Peptides and Shuttle Agents

All peptides used in this study were purchased from GLBiochem (Shanghai, China) and their purities were confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis and mass spectroscopy. In some cases, chimeric peptides were synthesized to contain a C-terminal cysteine residue to allow the preparation of peptide dimers. These dimeric peptides were directly synthetized with a disulfide bridge between the C-terminal cysteines of two monomers. The amino acid sequences and characteristics of each of the synthetic peptides and shuttle agents tested in the present examples are summarized in Table 1.3.

TABLE 1.3 Synthetic peptides and shuttle agents tested Amino acid (a.a.) sequence [SEQ ID NO;  Peptide not including Hydro- or Shuttle C-terminal Cys, unless MW pathicity Domain(s) agent indicated with an *] a.a. (kDa) pI Charge index ELD CM18 KWKLFKKIGAVLKVLTTG [1] 18 2.03 10.60  5+/0- 0.350 C(LLKK)₃C CLLKKLLKKLLKKC [63] 14 1.69 10.05  6+/0- 0.314 LAH4 KKALLALALHHLAHLALHLALA 26 2.78 10.48  4+/0- 0.923 LKKA [6] KALA WEAKLAKALAKALAKHLAKALA 30 3.13 9.9  7+/2- 0.283 KALKACEA [14] CPD TAT-cys YGRKKRRQRRRC [17] 12 1.66 12.01  8+/0- -3.125 Penetratin-cys RQIKIWFQNRRMKWKKC [18] 17 2.35 11.75  7+/0- -1.482 PTD4 YARAAARQARA [65] 11 1.2 11.72  3+/0- -0.682 His-PTD4 His-PTD4 HHHHHHYARAAARQARA [81] 17 2.03 11.71  3+/0- -1.57 CPD-ELD TAT-CM18 YGRKKRRQRRRCKWKLFKKIGA 30 3.68 12.02 13+/0- -1.041 VLKVLTTG [66] TAT-KALA YGRKKRRQRRRCWEAKLAKALA 42 4.67 11.46 15+/2- -0.768 KALAKHLAKALAKALKACEA [67] PTD4-KALA YARAAARQARAWEAKLAKALAK 41 4.32 10.46 10+/2- 0.024 ALAKHLAKALAKALKACEA [82] 9Arg-KALA RRRRRRRRRWEAKLAKALAKAL 39 4.54 12.11 16+/2- -0.821 AKHLAKALAKALKACEA [83] Pep1-KALA KETWWETWWTEWSQPKKKRKVW 51 5.62 10.01 13+/5- -0.673 EAKLAKALAKALAKHLAKALAK ALKACEA [84] Xentry-KALA LCLRPVGWEAKLAKALAKALAK 37 3.87 9.93  8+/2- 0.441 HLAKALAKALKACEA [85] SynB3-KALA RRLSYSRRRFWEAKLAKALAKA 40 4.51 11.12 12+/2- -0.258 LAKHLAKALAKALKACEA [86] ELD-CPD CM18-TAT-Cys KWKLFKKIGAVLKVLTTGYGRK 30 3.67 12.02 13+/0- -1.04 KRRQRRRC [57] CM18-Penetratin-Cys KWKLFKKIGAVLKVLTTGRQIK 35 4.36 11.36 12+/0- -0.54 IWFQNRRMKWKKC [58] dCM18-TAT-Cys KWKLFKKIGAVLKVLTTGYGRK 60 7.34 12.16 26+/0- -1.04 KRRQRRRC [57] (CM18-TAT-cys dimer) KWKLFKKIGAVLKVLTTGYGRK KRRQRRRC [57] dCM18-Penetratin-Cys KWKLFKKIGAVLKVLTTGRQIK 70 8.72 12.05 24+/0- -0.54 (CM18-Penetratin-Cys IWFQNRRMKWKKC [58] dimer) KWKLFKKIGAVLKVLTTGRQIK IWFQNRRMKWKKC [58] VSVG-PTD4 KFTIVFPHNQKGNWKNVPSNYH 36 4.2 10.3  6+/0- -0.89 YCPYARAAARQARA [87] EB1-PTD4 LIRLWSHLIHIWFQNRRLKWKK 34 4.29 12.31 10+/0- -0.647 KYARAAARQARA [88] JST-PTD4 GLFEALLELLESLWELLLEAYA 31 3.49 4.65  5+/3- 0.435 RAAARQARA [89] CM18-PTD4 KWKLFKKIGAVLKVLTTGYARA 29 3.217 11.76  8+/0- -0.041 AARQARA [90] 6Cys-CM18-PTD4 CCCCCCKWKLFKKIGAVLKVLT 35 3.835 9.7  8+/0- 0.394 TGYARAAARQARA [91] CM18-L1-PTD4 KWKLFKKIGAVLKVLTTGGGSY 32 3.42 11.76  8+/0- -0.087 ARAAARQARA [92] CM18-L2-PTD4 KWKLFKKIGAVLKVLTTGGGSG 36 3.68 11.76  8+/0- -0.133 GGSYARAAARQARA [93] CM18-L3-PTD4 KWKLFKKIGAVLKVLTTGGGSG 41 3.99 11.76  8+/0 -0.176 GGSGGGSGYARAAARQARA [94] His-ELD- Met-His-CM18-TAT-Cys MHHHHHHKWKLFKKIGAVLKVL 37 4.63 12.02 13+/0- -1.311 CPD TTGYGRKKRRQRRRC [59*] His-CM18-TAT HHHHHHKWKLFKKIGAVLKVLT 35 4.4 12.31 13+/0- -1.208 TGYGRKKRRQRRR [95] His-CM18-PTD4 HHHHHHKWKLFKKIGAVLKVLT 35 4.039 11.76  8+/0- -0.583 TGYARAAARQARA [68] His-CM18-PTD4-6Cys HHHHHHKWKLFKKIGAVLKVLT 41 4.659 9.7  8+/0- -0.132 TGYARAAARQARACCCCCC [96*] His-CM18-9Arg HHHHHHKWKLFKKIGAVLKVLT 33 4.26 12.91 14+/0- -1.618 TGRRRRRRRRR [69] His-CM18-Transportan HHHHHHKWKLFKKIGAVLKVLT 50 5.62 10.6  9+/0- 0.092 TGGWTLNSAGYLLKINLKALAA LAKKIL [70] His-LAH4-PTD4 HHHHHHKKALLALALHHLAHLA 43 4.78 11.75  7+/0- -0.63 LHLALALKKAYARAAARQARA [71] His-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4 HHHHHHCLLKKLLKKLLKKCYA 31 3.56 11.21  9+/0- -0.827 RAAARQARA [72] 3His-CM18-PTD4 HHHKWKLFKKIGAVLKVLTTGY 32 3.63 11.76  8+/0- -0.338 ARAAARQARA [97] 12His-CM18-PTD4 HHHHHHHHHHHHKWKLFKKIGA 41 4.86 11.76  8+/0- -0.966 VLKVLTTGYARAAARQARA [98] HA-CM18-PTD4 HHHAHHHKWKLFKKIGAVLKVL 36 4.11 11.76  8+/0- -0.517 TTGYARAAARQARA [99] 3HA-CM18-PTD4 HAHHAHHAHKWKLFKKIGAVLK 38 4.25 11.76  8+/0- -0.395 VLTTGYARAAARQARA [100] ELD-His- CM18-His-PTD4 KWKLFKKIGAVLKVLTTGHHHH 35 4.04 11.76  8+/0- -0.583 CPD HHYARAAARQARA [101] His-ELD- His-CM18-PTD4-His HHHHHHKWKLFKKIGAVLKVLT 41 4.86 11.76  8+/0- -0.966 CPD-His TGYARAAARQARAHHHHHH [102] Results computed using the ProtParam™ online tool available from ExPASy™ Bioinformatics Resource Portal (http://web.expasy.org/cgi-bin/protparam/protparam) MW: Molecular weight pI: Isoelectric point Charge: Total number of positively (+) and negatively (-) charged residues

Example 2 Peptide Shuttle Agents Facilitate Escape of Endosomally-Trapped Calcein

2.1 Endosome Escape Assays

Microscopy-based and flow cytometry-based fluorescence assays were developed to study endosome leakage and to determine whether the addition of the shuttle agents facilitates endosome leakage of the polypeptide cargo.

2.1.1 Endosomal Leakage Visualization by Microscopy

Calcein is a membrane-impermeable fluorescent molecule that is readily internalized by cells when administered to the extracellular medium. Its fluorescence is pH-dependent and calcein self-quenches at higher concentrations. Once internalized, calcein becomes sequestered at high concentrations in cell endosomes and can be visualized by fluorescence microscopy as a punctate pattern. Following endosomal leakage, calcein is released to the cell cytoplasm and this release can be visualized by fluorescence microscopy as a diffuse pattern.

One day before the calcein assay was performed, mammalian cells (e.g., HeLa, HEK293A, or myoblasts) in exponential growth phase were harvested and plated in a 24-well plate (80,000 cells per well). The cells were allowed to attach by incubating overnight in appropriate growth media, as described in Example 1. The next day, the media was removed and replaced with 300 μL of fresh media without FBS containing 62.5 μg/mL (100 μM) of calcein, except for HEK293A (250 μg/mL, 400 μM). At the same time, the shuttle agent(s) to be tested was added at a predetermined concentration. The plate was incubated at 37° C. for 30 minutes. The cells were washed with 1×PBS (37° C.) and fresh media containing FBS was added. The plate was incubated at 37° C. for 2.5 hours. The cells were washed three times and were visualized by phase contrast and fluorescence microscopy (IX81™, Olympus).

A typical result is shown in FIG. 1A, in which untreated HEK293A cells loaded with calcein (“100 μM calcein”) show a low intensity, punctate fluorescent pattern when visualized by fluorescence microscopy (upper left panel in FIG. 1A). In contrast, HeLa cells treated with a shuttle agent that facilitates endosomal escape of calcein (“100 μM calcein+CM18-TAT 5 μM”) show a higher intensity, more diffuse fluorescence pattern in a greater proportion of cells (upper right panel in FIG. 1A).

2.1.2 Endosomal Leakage Quantification by Flow Cytometry

In addition to microscopy, flow cytometry allows a more quantitative analysis of the endosomal leakage as the fluorescence intensity signal increases once the calcein is released in the cytoplasm. Calcein fluorescence is optimal at physiological pH (e.g., in the cytosol), as compared to the acidic environment of the endosome.

One day before the calcein assay was performed, mammalian cells (e.g., HeLa, HEK293, or myoblasts) in exponential growth phase were harvested and plated in a 96-well plate (20,000 cells per well). The cells were allowed to attach by incubating overnight in appropriate growth media, as described in Example 1. The next day, the media in wells was removed and replaced with 50 μL of fresh media without serum containing 62.5 μg/mL (100 μM) of calcein, except for HEK293A (250 μg/mL, 400 μM). At the same time, the shuttle agent(s) to be tested was added at a predetermined concentration. The plate was incubated at 37° C. for 30 minutes. The cells were washed with 1×PBS (37° C.) and fresh media containing 5-10% serum was added. The plate was incubated at 37° C. for 2.5 hours. The cells were washed with 1×PBS and detached using trypsinization. Trypsinization was stopped by addition of appropriate growth media, and calcein fluorescence was quantified using flow cytometry (Accuri C6, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD)).

Untreated calcein-loaded cells were used as a control to distinguish cells having a baseline of fluorescence due to endosomally-trapped calcein from cells having increased fluorescence due to release of calcein from endosomes. Fluorescence signal means (“mean counts”) were analyzed for endosomal escape quantification. In some cases, the “Mean Factor” was calculated, which corresponds to the fold-increase of the mean counts relative to control (untreated calcein-loaded cells). Also, the events scanned by flow cytometry corresponding to cells (size and granularity) were analyzed. The cellular mortality was monitored with the percentage of cells in the total events scanned. When it became lower than the control, it was considered that the number of cellular debris was increasing due to toxicity and the assay was discarded.

A typical result is shown in FIG. 1B, in which an increase in fluorescence intensity (right-shift) is observed for calcein-loaded HeLa cells treated with a shuttle agent that facilitates endosomal escape (“Calcein 100 μM+CM18-TAT 5 μM”, right panel in FIG. 1B), as compared to untreated calcein-loaded HeLa cells (“Calcein 100 μM”, left panel in FIG. 1B). The increase in calcein fluorescence is caused by the increase in pH associated with the release of calcein from the endosome (acidic) to the cytoplasm (physiological).

2.2 Results from Endosome Escape Assays

-   2.2.1 HeLa Cells

HeLa cells were cultured and tested in the endosomal escape assays as described in Example 2.1. The results of flow cytometry analyses are summarized below. In each case, the flow cytometry results were also confirmed by fluorescence microscopy (data not shown).

TABLE 2.1 CM18-Penetratin-Cys v. Controls in HeLa cells Concen- Mean tration Counts (±St. Mean Domains Peptide Cells (μM) Dev.; n = 3) Factor — No peptide HeLa 0 55 359 ± 6844 1.0 ELD CM18 HeLa 5 46 564 ± 9618 0.8 CPD TAT-Cys HeLa 5 74 961 ± 9337 1.3 Penetratin- HeLa 5 59 551 ± 7119 1.1 Cys ELD + CM18 + HeLa 5 + 5 64 333 ± 6198 1.2 CPD TAT-Cys CM18 + HeLa 5 + 5 40 976 ± 8167 0.7 Penetratin- Cys ELD- CM18- HeLa 5  262 066 ± 28 146 4.7 CPD Penetratin- Cys

TABLE 2.2 CM18-TAT-Cys v. Control in HeLa cells Concentration Mean counts Stand. Domains Peptide Cells (μM) (n = 3) dev. Mean Factor — No peptide HeLa 0  53 369   4192 1.0 ELD-CPD CM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 5 306 572 46 564 5.7

The results in Tables 2.1 and 2.2 show that treating calcein-loaded HeLa cells with the shuttle agents CM18-Penetratin-Cys and CM18-TAT-Cys (having the domain structure ELD-CPD) results in increased mean cellular calcein fluorescence intensity, as compared to untreated control cells or cells treated with single-domain peptides used alone (CM18, TAT-Cys, Penetratin-Cys) or together (CM18+TAT-Cys, CM18+Penetratin-Cys). These results suggest that CM18-Penetratin-Cys and CM18-TAT-Cys facilitate escape of endosomally-trapped calcein, but that single domain peptides (used alone or together) do not.

TABLE 2.3 Dose response of CM18-TAT-Cys in HeLa cells, data from FIG. 2 Concentration Mean counts Stand. Domains Peptide Cells (μM) (n = 3) dev. Mean Factor — No peptide HeLa 0  63 872 11 587 1.0 (“calcein 100 μM”) ELD-CPD CM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 1  86 919 39 165 1.4 CM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 2 137 887 13 119 2.2 CM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 3 174 327 11 519 2.7 CM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 4 290 548 16 593 4.5 CM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 5 383 685   5578 6.0

TABLE 2.4 Dose response of CM18-TAT-Cys in HeLa cells Concentration Mean counts Stand. Domains Peptide Cells (μM) (n = 3) dev. Mean Factor — No peptide HeLa 0  81 013 14 213 1.0 ELD-CPD CM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 3 170 652 63 848 2.1 CM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 4 251 799 33 880 3.1 CM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 5 335 324 10 651 4.1

TABLE 2.5 Dose response of CM18-TAT-Cys and CM18-Penetratin- Cys in HeLa cells, data from FIG. 3 Concentration Mean counts Stand. Domains Peptide Cells (μM) (n = 3) dev. Mean Factor — No peptide HeLa 0  62 503 23 752 1.0 ELD-CPD CM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 5 187 180   8593 3.0 CM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 8 321 873 36 512 5.1 CM18-Penetratin- HeLa 5 134 506   2992 2.2 Cys CM18-Penetratin- HeLa 8 174 233 56 922 2.8 Cys

The results in Tables 2.3 (FIG. 2), 2.4, and 2.5 (FIG. 3) suggest that CM18-TAT-Cys and CM18-Penetratin-Cys facilitate escape of endosomally-trapped calcein in HeLa cells in a dose-dependent manner. In some cases, concentrations of CM18-TAT-Cys or CM18-Penetratin-Cys above 10 μM were associated with an increase in cell toxicity in HeLa cells.

TABLE 2.6 Dimers v. monomers of CM18-TAT-Cys and CM18-Penetratin-Cys in HeLa cells Concentration Mean counts Stand. Domains Peptide Cells (μM) (n = 4) dev. Mean Factor — No peptide HeLa 0  60 239 9860 1.0 ELD-CPD CM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 4 128 461 25 742   2.1 CM18-Penetratin- HeLa 4 116 873 3543 1.9 Cys ELD-CPD dCM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 2  79 380 4297 1.3 dimer dCM18-Penetratin- HeLa 2 128 363 8754 2.1 Cys

TABLE 2.7 Monomers v. dimers of CM18-TAT-Cys and CM18-Penetratin-Cys in HeLa cells Concentration Mean counts Stand. Domains Peptide Cells (μM) (n = 3) dev. Mean Factor — No peptide HeLa 0  55 834  1336 1.0 ELD-CPD CM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 4 159 042 16 867  2.8 ELD-CPD dCM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 2 174 274 9 553 3.1 dimer

The results in Table 2.6 and 2.7 suggest that shuttle peptide dimers (which are molecules comprising more than one ELD and CPD) are able to facilitate calcein endosomal escape levels that are comparable to the corresponding monomers.

2.2.3 HEK293A Cells

To examine the effects of the shuttle agents on a different cell line, HEK293A cells were cultured and tested in the endosomal escape assays as described in Example 2.1. The results of flow cytometry analyses are summarized below in Table 2.8 and in FIG. 1B.

TABLE 2.8 CM18-TAT-Cys in HEK293A cells Concentration Mean counts Stand. Domains Peptide Cells (μM) (n = 2) dev. Mean Factor — No peptide HEK293A 0 165 819 7693 1.0 ELD-CPD CM18-TAT-Cys HEK293A 0.5 196 182 17 224   1.2 CM18-TAT-Cys HEK293A 5 629 783 1424 3.8

The results in Table 2.8 and in FIG. 1B show that treating calcein-loaded HEK293A cells with the shuttle agent CM18-TAT-Cys results in increased mean cellular calcein fluorescence intensity, as compared to untreated control cells.

2.2.2 Myoblasts

To examine the effects of the shuttle agents on primary cells, primary myoblast cells were cultured and tested in the endosomal escape assays as described in Example 2.1. The results of flow cytometry analyses are summarized below in Tables 2.9 and 2.10, and in FIG. 4. In each case, the flow cytometry results were also confirmed by fluorescence microscopy.

TABLE 2.9 Dose response of CM18-TAT-Cys in primary myoblasts, data from FIG. 4 Peptide Conc. Mean counts Stand. Domains Peptide Cells (μM) (n = 3) dev. Mean Factor — No peptide; Myoblasts 0   863    61 n/a no calcein (“Cells”) — No peptide Myoblasts 0 38 111 13 715 1.0 (“Calcein 100 μM”) ELD-CPD CM18-TAT-Cys Myoblasts 5 79 826 12 050 2.1 CM18-TAT-Cys Myoblasts 8 91 421 10 846 2.4

TABLE 2.10 Dose response of CM18-TAT-Cys in primary myoblasts Peptide Conc. Mean counts Stand. Domains Peptide Cells (μM) (n = 3) dev. Mean Factor — No peptide Myoblasts 0 31 071 21 075 1.0 ELD-CPD CM18-TAT-Cys Myoblasts 5 91 618 10 535 2.9 CM18-TAT-Cys Myoblasts 7.5 95 289 11 266 3.1

The results in Table 2.9 (shown graphically in FIG. 4) and Table 2.10 suggest that CM18-TAT-Cys facilitates escape of endosomally-trapped calcein in a dose-dependent manner in primary myoblasts. Concentrations of CM18-TAT-Cys above 10 μM were associated with an increase in cell toxicity in myoblast cells, as for HeLa cells.

TABLE 2.11 Monomers v. dimers CM18-TAT-Cys and CM18-Penetratin-Cys in primary myoblasts Concentration Stand. Domains Peptide Cells (μM) Mean counts dev. Mean Factor — No peptide Myoblasts 0 30 175 4687 1.0 ELD-CPD CM18-TAT-Cys Myoblasts 5 88 686 19 481   2.9 ELD-CPD dCM18-TAT-Cys Myoblasts 2.5 64 864 1264 2.1 dimer ELD-CPD CM18-Penetratin- Myoblasts 5 65 636 3288 2.2 Cys ELD-CPD dCM18-Penetratin- Myoblasts 2.5 71 547 10 975   2.4 dimer Cys

The results in Table 2.11 suggest that shuttle peptide dimers are able to facilitate calcein endosomal escape levels that are comparable to the corresponding monomers in primary myoblasts.

Example 3 Peptide Shuttle Agents Increase GFP Transduction Efficiency

3.1 Protein Transduction Assay

One day before the transduction assay was performed, mammalian cells (e.g., HEK293, CHO, HeLa, THP-1, and myoblasts) in exponential growth phase were harvested and plated in a 96-well plate (20,000 cells per well). The cells were incubated overnight in appropriate growth media containing FBS (see Example 1). The next day, in separate sterile 1.5 mL tubes, cargo protein at 0.5 to 10 μM (GFP, TAT-GFP, GFP-NLS, or FITC-labeled anti-tubulin antibody) was pre-mixed (pre-incubated) for 10 min at 37° C. with shuttle agents (0.5 to 5 μM) in 50 μL of fresh medium without serum (unless otherwise specified). GFP, GFP-NLS and TAT-GFP are recombinant proteins developed and produced by Feldan (see Example 3.4 below). FITC-labeled anti-tubulin antibody was purchased from Abcam (ab64503). The media in wells was removed and the cells were washed three times with freshly prepared phosphate buffered saline (PBS) previously warmed at 37° C. The cells were incubated with the cargo protein/shuttle agent mixture at 37° C. for 5 or 60 min. After the incubation, the cells were quickly washed three times with freshly prepared PBS and/or heparin (0.5 mg/mL) previously warmed at 37° C. The washes with heparin were required for human THP-1 blood cells to avoid undesired cell membrane-bound protein background in subsequent analyses (microscopy and flow cytometry). The cells were finally incubated in 50 μL of fresh medium with serum at 37° C. before analysis.

3.2 Fluorescence Microscopy Analysis

The delivery of fluorescent protein cargo in cytosolic and nuclear cell compartments was observed with an Olympus IX70™ microscope (Japan) equipped with a fluorescence lamp (Model U-LH100HGAPO) and different filters. The Olympus filter U-MF2™ (C54942-Exc495/Em510) was used to observe GFP and FITC-labeled antibody fluorescent signals. The Olympus filter HQ-TR™ (V-N41004-Exc555-60/Em645-75) was used to observe mCherry™ and GFP antibody fluorescent signals. The Olympus filter U-MWU2™ (Exc330/Em385) was used to observe DAPI or Blue Hoechst fluorescent signals. The cells incubated in 50 μL of fresh medium were directly observed by microscopy (Bright-field and fluorescence) at different power fields (4× to 40×). The cells were observed using a CoolSNAP-PRO™ camera (Series A02D874021) and images were acquired using the Image-Proplus™ software.

3.2a Cell Immuno-Labelling

Adherent cells were plated on a sterile glass strip at 1.5×10⁵ cells per well in a 24-plate well and incubated overnight at 37° C. For fixation, cells were incubated in 500 μL per well of formaldehyde (3.7% v/v) for 15 minutes at room temperature, and washed 3 times for 5 minutes with PBS. For permeabilization, cells were incubated in 500 μL per well of Triton™ X-100 (0.2%) for 10 minutes at room temperature, and washed 3 times for 5 minutes with PBS. For blocking, cells were incubated in 500 μL per well of PBS containing 1% BSA (PBS/BSA) for 60 minutes at room temperature. Primary mouse monoclonal antibody was diluted PBS/BSA (1%). Cells were incubated in 30 μL of primary antibody overnight at 4° C. Cells were washed 3 times for 5 minutes with PBS. Secondary antibody was diluted in PBS/BSA (1%) and cells were incubated in 250 μL of secondary antibody 30 minutes at room temperature in the dark. Cells were washed 3 times for 5 minutes with PBS. Glass strips containing the cells were mounted on microscope glass slides with 10 μL of the mounting medium Fluoroshield™ with DAPI.

3.3 Flow Cytometry Analysis:

The fluorescence of GFP was quantified using flow cytometry (Accuri C6, Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD)). Untreated cells were used to establish a baseline in order to quantify the increased fluorescence due to the internalization of the fluorescent protein in treated cells. The percentage of cells with a fluorescence signal above the maximum fluorescence of untreated cells, “mean %” or “Pos cells (%)”, is used to identify positive fluorescent cells. “Relative fluorescence intensity (FL1-A)” corresponds to the mean of all fluorescence intensities from each cell with a fluorescent signal after fluorescent protein delivery with the shuttle agent. Also, the events scanned by flow cytometry corresponding to cells (size and granularity) were analyzed. The cellular toxicity (% cell viability) was monitored comparing the percentage of cells in the total events scanned of treated cells comparatively to untreated cells.

3.3a Viability Analysis

The viability of cells was assessed with a rezazurine test. Rezazurine is a sodium salt colorant that is converted from blue to pink by mitochondrial enzymes in metabolically active cells. This colorimetric conversion, which only occurs in viable cells, can be measured by spectroscopy analysis in order to quantify the percentage of viable cells. The stock solution of rezazurine was prepared in water at 1 mg/100 mL and stored at 4° C. 25 μL of the stock solution was added to each well of a 96-well plate, and cells were incubated at 37° C. for one hour before spectrometry analysis. The incubation time used for the rezazurine enzymatic reaction depended on the quantity of cells and the volume of medium used in the wells.

3.4 Construction and Amino Acid Sequence of GFP

The GFP-encoding gene was cloned in a T5 bacterial expression vector to express a GFP protein containing a 6× histidine tag and a serine/glycine rich linker in the N-terminal end, and a serine/glycine rich linker and a stop codon (-) at the C-terminal end. Recombinant GFP protein was purified as described in Example 1.4. The sequence of the GFP construct was:

[SEQ ID NO: 60] MHHHHHHGGGGSGGGGSGGASTGTGIR MVSKGEELFTGVVPILVELDG DVNGHKFSVSGEGEGDATYGKLTLKFICTTGKLPVPWPTLVTTLTYGV QCFSRYPDHMKQHDFFKSAMPEGYVQERTIFFKDDGNYKTRAEVKFEG DTLVNRIELKGIDFKEDGNILGHKLEYNYNSHNVYIMADKQKNGIKVN FKIRHNIEDGSVQLADHYQQNTPIGDGPVLLPDNHYLSTQSALSKDPN EKRDHMVLLEFVTAAGITLGMDELYK GGSGGGSGGGSGWIRASSGGRE IS- (MW = 31.46 kDa; pI = 6.19) Serine/glycine rich linkers are in bold GFP sequence is underlined 3.5 GFP Transduction by CM18-TAT-Cys in HeLa Cells: Fluorescence Microscopy

HeLa cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assay described in Example 3.1. Briefly, GFP recombinant protein was co-incubated with 0, 3 or 5 μM of CM18-TAT, and then exposed to HeLa cells for 1 hour. The cells were observed by bright field and fluorescence microscopy as described in Example 3.2. The results presented in FIG. 5 show that GFP was delivered intracellularly to HeLa cells in the presence of the shuttle agent CM18-TAT.

3.6 GFP Transduction by Shuttle Agents in HeLa Cells: Dose Responses (CM18-TAT-Cys, dCM18-TAT-Cys, GFP) and Cell Viability

HeLa cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assay described in Examples 3.1-3.3. Briefly, GFP recombinant protein was co-incubated with different concentrations of CM18-TAT-Cys or dimerized CM18-TAT-Cys (dCM18-TAT-Cys), and then exposed to HeLa cells for 1 hour. The results are shown in Table 3.1 and FIGS. 6A-6B.

TABLE 3.1 Dose response (CM18-TAT) and cell viability, data from FIGS. 6A and 6B FIG. 6B Concen- FIG. 6A Cell viability tration Mean (%) Standard (%) (±St. Shuttle Cells (μM) (n = 3) deviation Dev.; n = 3) CM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 0 0.69 0.12 95 ± 4 HeLa 0.5 8.67 0.96 88.4 ± 6  HeLa 1 20.03 2.55 90 ± 6 HeLa 3 31.06 5.28 91 ± 5 HeLa 5 36.91 4.33 90 ± 7

Table 3.1 and FIG. 6A show the results of flow cytometry analysis of the fluorescence intensity of HeLa cells transduced with GFP (5 μM) without or with 5, 3, 1, and 0.5 μM of CM18-TAT-Cys. Corresponding cellular toxicity data are presented in Table 3.1 and in FIG. 6B. These results suggest that the shuttle agent CM18-TAT-Cys increases the transduction efficiency of GFP in a dose-dependent manner.

TABLE 3.2 Dose response (GFP), data from FIGS. 7A and 7B Conc. of Conc. of Mean shuttle agent GFP (%) Standard Shuttle Cells (μM) (μM) (n = 3) deviation Control HeLa 0 10 0.93 0.08 CM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 5 10 37.1 4.29 HeLa 5 5 21.1 2.19 HeLa 5 1 8.56 1.91 Control HeLa 0 10 0.91 0.09 dCM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 2.5 10 34.2 3.42 HeLa 2.5 5 22.2 3.17 HeLa 2.5 1 9.38 2.11

Table 3.2 and FIGS. 7A-7B show the results of flow cytometry analysis of the fluorescence intensity of HeLa cells transduced with different concentrations of GFP (1 to 10 μM) without or with 5 μM of CM18-TAT-Cys (FIG. 7A) or 2.5 μM dCM18-TAT-Cys (FIG. 7B).

3.7 GFP Transduction in HeLa Cells: Dose Responses of CM18-TAT-Cys and CM18-Penetratin-Cys, and Dimers Thereof

HeLa cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assay described in Example 3.1. Briefly, GFP recombinant protein (5 μM) was co-incubated with different concentrations and combinations of CM18-TAT-Cys, CM18-Penetratin-Cys, and dimers of each (dCM18-TAT-Cys, dCM18-Penetratin-Cys), and then exposed to HeLa cells for 1 hour. The cells were subjected to flow cytometry analysis as described in Example 3.3. The results are shown in Table 3.3 and FIG. 8, as well as in Table 3.4 and FIG. 9.

TABLE 3.3 Data in FIG. 8 Concen- Mean No. in tration (%) Standard FIG. 8 Shuttle agent Cells (μM) (n = 3) deviation Control No shuttle HeLa 0 0.43 0.08 (“ctrl”) 1 CM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 0.5 8.75 0.63 2 dCM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 0.5 8.86 1.03 3 CM18-Penetratin-Cys HeLa 3 0.59 0.11 4 dCM18-Penetratin-Cys HeLa 3 0.73 0.08 1 + 3 CM18-TAT-Cys + HeLa 0.5 19.52 2.18 CM18-Penetratin-Cys 3 2 + 3 dCM18-TAT-Cys + HeLa 0.5 22.44 3.29 CM18-Penetratin-Cys 3 1 + 4 CM18-TAT-Cys + HeLa 0.5 18.73 1.55 dCM18-Penetratin-Cys 3 2 + 4 dCM18-TAT-Cys + HeLa 0.5 17.19 1.93 dCM18-Penetratin-Cys 3

The results in Table 3.3 and FIG. 8 show that the transduction efficiency of GFP is increased in HeLa cells using the shuttle agents CM18-TAT-Cys and dCM18-TAT-Cys (see bars “1” and “2” in FIG. 8). Although no GFP intracellular delivery was observed using CM18-Penetratin-Cys or dCM18-Penetratin-Cys alone (see bars “3” or “4” in FIG. 8), combination of CM18-TAT-Cys with CM18-Penetratin-Cys (monomer or dimer) improved GFP protein delivery (see four right-most bars in FIG. 8).

TABLE 3.4 Data in FIG. 9 Concen- Mean No. in tration (%) Standard FIG. 9 Shuttle Cells (μM) (n = 3) deviation Control No shuttle HeLa 0 0.51 0.07 (“ctrl”) 1 CM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 1 20.19 2.19 2 dCM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 1 18.43 1.89 3 CM18-Penetratin-Cys HeLa 3 0.81 0.07 4 dCM18-Penetratin-Cys HeLa 3 0.92 0.08 1 + 3 CM18-TAT-Cys + HeLa 1 30.19 3.44 CM18-Penetratin-Cys 3 2 + 3 dCM18-TAT-Cys + HeLa 1 22.36 2.46 CM18-Penetratin-Cys 3 1 + 4 CM18-TAT-Cys + HeLa 1 26.47 2.25 dCM18-Penetratin-Cys 3 2 + 4 dCM18-TAT-Cys + HeLa 1 21.44 3.11 dCM18-Penetratin-Cys 3

The results in Table 3.4 and FIG. 9 show that the transduction efficiency of GFP is increased in HeLa cells using the shuttle agents CM18-TAT-Cys and dCM18-TAT-Cys (see bars “1” and “2” in FIG. 9). Although no

GFP intracellular delivery was observed using CM18-Penetratin-Cys or dCM18-Penetratin-Cys alone (see bars “3” or “4” in FIG. 9), combination of CM18-TAT-Cys with CM18-Penetratin-Cys (monomer or dimer) improved GFP protein delivery (see four right-most bars in FIG. 9).

3.8 GFP Transduction by Shuttle Agents in HeLa Cells: Controls

HeLa cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assay described in Example 3.1. Briefly, GFP recombinant protein (5 μM) was co-incubated with 5 μM of each of the following peptide(s): TAT-Cys; CM18; Penetratin-Cys; TAT-Cys+CM18; Penetratin-Cys+CM18; and CM18-TAT-Cys, and then exposed to HeLa cells for 1 hour. GFP fluorescence was visualized by bright field and fluorescence microscopy. The microscopy results (data not shown) showed that GFP was successfully delivered intracellularly using CM18-TAT-Cys. However, GFP was not successfully delivered intracellularly using single-domain peptides used alone (CM18, TAT-Cys, Penetratin-Cys) or together (CM18+TAT-Cys, CM18+Penetratin-Cys). These results are consistent with those presented in Tables 2.1 and 2.2 with respect to the calcein endosome escape assays.

Example 4 Peptide Shuttle Agents Increase TAT-GFP Transduction Efficiency

The experiments in Example 3 showed the ability of shuttle agents to deliver GFP intracellularly. The experiments presented in this example show that the shuttle agents can also increase the intracellular delivery of a GFP cargo protein that is fused to a CPD (TAT-GFP).

4.1 Construction and Amino Acid Sequence of TAT-GFP

Construction was performed as described in Example 3.4, except that a TAT sequence was cloned between the 6× histidine tag and the GFP sequences. The 6× histidine tag, TAT, GFP and a stop codon (-) are separated by serine/glycine rich linkers. The recombinant TAT-GFP protein was purified as described in Example 1.4. The sequence of the TAT-GFP construct was:

[SEQ ID NO: 61] MHHHHHHGGGGSGGGGSGGASTGT GRKKRRQRRRPPQ GGGGSGGGGSG GGTGIRMVSKGEELFTGVVPILVELDGDVNGHKFSVSGEGEGDATYGK LTLKFICTTGKLPVPWPTLVTTLTYGVQCFSRYPDHMKQHDFFKSAMP EGYVQERTIFFKDDGNYKTRAEVKFEGDTLVNRIELKGIDFKEDGNIL GHKLEYNYNSHNVYIMADKQKNGIKVNFKIRHNIEDGSVQLADHYQQN TPIGDGPVLLPDNHYLSTQSALSKDPNEKRDHMVLLEFVTAAGITLGM DELYKGGSGGGSGGGSGWIRASSGGREIS- (MW = 34.06 kDa; pI = 8.36) TAT sequence is underlined Serine/glycine rich linkers are in bold 4.2 TAT-GFP Transduction by CM18-TAT-Cys in HeLa Cells: Visualisation by Fluorescence Microscopy

HeLa cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assay described in Example 3.1. Briefly, TAT-GFP recombinant protein (5 μM) was co-incubated with 3 μM of CM18-TAT-Cys and then exposed to HeLa cells for 1 hour. Cells and GFP fluorescence were visualized by bright field and fluorescence microscopy (as described in Example 3.2) at 10× and 40× magnifications, and sample results are shown in FIG. 10. The microscopy results revealed that in the absence of CM18-TAT-Cys, TAT-GFP shows a low intensity, endosomal distribution as reported in the literature. In contrast, TAT-GFP is delivered to the cytoplasm and to the nucleus in the presence of the shuttle agent CM18-TAT-Cys. Without being bound by theory, the TAT peptide itself may act as a nuclear localization signal (NLS), explaining the nuclear localization of TAT-GFP. These results show that CM18-TAT-Cys is able to increase TAT-GFP transduction efficiency and allow endosomally-trapped TAT-GFP to gain access to the cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments.

4.3 TAT-GFP Transduction by CM18-TAT-Cys in HeLa Cells: Dose Responses and Viability of Cells Transduced

HeLa cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assay described in Example 3.1. Briefly, TAT-GFP-Cys recombinant protein (5 μM) was co-incubated with different concentrations of CM18-TAT-Cys (0, 0.5, 1, 3, or 5 μM) and then exposed to HeLa cells for 1 hour. The cells were subjected to flow cytometry analysis as described in Example 3.3. Results are shown in Table 4.3 and FIG. 11A. Corresponding cellular toxicity data are presented in FIG. 11B.

TABLE 4.3 Data from FIG. 11A and 11B FIG. 11A FIG. 11B Concen- Mean Cell viability tration (%) Standard (%) (±St. Shuttle agent Cells (μM) (n = 3) deviation Dev.; n = 3) CM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 0 11.79¹ 1.16 100 HeLa 0.5 10.19 1.94 84.36 ± 5   HeLa 1 14.46 2.59 89.26 ± 5.26 HeLa 3 28.12 3.27 93.18 ± 6.28 HeLa 5 35.5² 3.59 95.14 ± 5.28 ¹The fluorescence was mostly endosomal, as confirmed by fluorescence microscopy. ²Fluorescence was more diffuse and also nuclear, as confirmed by fluorescence microscopy.

Example 5 Peptide Shuttle Agents Increase GFP-NLS Transduction Efficiency and Nuclear Localization

The experiments in Examples 3 and 4 showed the ability of shuttle agents to deliver GFP and TAT-GFP intracellularly. The experiments presented in this example show that the shuttle agents can facilitate nuclear delivery of a GFP protein cargo fused to a nuclear localization signal (NLS).

5.1 Construction and Amino Acid Sequence of GFP-NLS

Construction was performed as described in Example 3.4, except that an optimized NLS sequence was cloned between the GFP sequence and the stop codon (-). The NLS sequence is separated from the GFP sequence and the stop codon by two serine/glycine rich linkers. The recombinant GFP-NLS protein was purified as described in Example 1.4. The sequence of the GFP-NLS construct was:

[SEQ ID NO: 62] MHHHHHHGGGGSGGGGSGGASTGIRMVSKGEELFTGVVPILVELDGDV NGHKESVSGEGEGDATYGKLTLKFICTTGKLPVPWPTLVTTLTYGVQC FSRYPDHMKQHDFFKSAMPEGYVQERTIFFKDDGNYKTRAEVKFEGDT LVNRIELKGIDFKEDGNILGHKLEYNYNSHNVYIMADKQKNGIKVNFK IRHNIEDGSVQLADHYQQNTPIGDGPVLLPDNHYLSTQSALSKDPNEK RDHMVLLEFVTAAGITLGMDELYKGGSGGGSGGGSGWIRA SSGGRSSD DEATADSQHAAPPKKKRKV GGSGGGSGGGSGGGRGTEIS- (MW = 34.85 kDa; pI = 6.46) NLS sequence is underlined Serine/glycine rich linkers are in bold 5.2 Nuclear Delivery of GFP-NLS by CM18-TAT-Cys in HeLa Cells in 5 Minutes: Visualisation by Fluorescence Microscopy

HeLa cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assay described in Example 3.1. Briefly, GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM) was co-incubated with 5 μM of CM18-TAT-Cys, and then exposed to HeLa cells. GFP fluorescence was visualized by bright field and fluorescence microscopy after 5 minutes (as described in Example 3.2) at 10×, 20× and 40× magnifications, and sample results are shown in FIG. 12. The microscopy results revealed that GFP-NLS is efficiently delivered to the nucleus in the presence of the shuttle agent CM18-TAT-Cys, after only 5 minutes of incubation.

5.3 GFP-NLS Transduction by CM18-TAT-Cys in HeLa Cells: Dose Responses and Viability of Cells Transduced

HeLa cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assay described in Example 3.1. GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM) was co-incubated with 0, 0.5, 1, 3, or 5 μM of CM18-TAT-Cys, and then exposed to HeLa cells for 1 hour. The cells were subjected to flow cytometry analysis as described in Example 3.3. Results are shown in Table 5.1 and FIG. 13A. Corresponding cellular toxicity data are presented in FIG. 13B.

TABLE 5.1 Data from FIG. 13A and 13B FIG. 13A FIG. 13B Concen- Mean Cell viability tration (%) Standard (%) (±St. Shuttle agent Cells (μM) (n = 3) deviation Dev.; n = 3) CM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 0 0.90 0.12 100 HeLa 0.5 9.81 1.63 87.6 ± 4  HeLa 1 18.42 2.47 93 ± 8 HeLa 3 28.09 3.24 94 ± 5 HeLa 5 32.26 4.79 93 ± 4

These results show that CM18-TAT-Cys is able to increase GFP-NLS transduction efficiency in HeLa cells in a dose-dependent manner.

5.4 GFP-NLS Transduction by CM18-TAT-Cys, CM18-Penetratin-Cys, and Dimers Thereof in HeLa Cells

HeLa cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assay described in Example 3.1. GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM) was co-incubated with different concentrations and combinations of CM18-TAT-Cys, CM18-Penetratin-Cys, and dimers of each (dCM18-TAT-Cys, dCM18-Penetratin-Cys), and then exposed to HeLa cells for 1 hour. The cells were subjected to flow cytometry analysis as described in Example 3.3. The results are shown in Tables 5.2 and 5.3, and in FIGS. 14 and 15.

TABLE 5.2 Data in FIG. 14 Concen- Mean No. in tration (%) Standard FIG. 14 Shuttle agent Cells (μM) (n = 3) deviation ctrl No shuttle HeLa 0 0.41 0.10 1 CM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 0.5 7.64 0.85 2 dCM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 0.5 8.29 0.91 3 CM18-Penetratin-Cys HeLa 3 0.43 0.08 4 dCM18-Penetratin-Cys HeLa 3 0.85 0.07 1 + 3 CM18-TAT-Cys + HeLa 0.5 21.1 2.47 CM18-Penetratin-Cys 3 2 + 3 dCM18-TAT-Cys + HeLa 0.5 19.22 2.73 CM18-Penetratin-Cys 3 1 + 4 CM18-TAT-Cys + HeLa 0.5 23.44 2.51 dCM18-Penetratin-Cys 3 2 + 4 dCM18-TAT-Cys + HeLa 0.5 19.47 2.16 dCM18-Penetratin-Cys 3

TABLE 5.3 Data in FIG. 15 Concen- Mean No. in tration (%) Standard FIG. 15 Shuttle agent Cells (μM) (n = 3) deviation ctrl No shuttle HeLa 0 0.44 0.12 1 CM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 1 15.56 2.24 2 dCM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 1 17.83 2.13 3 CM18-Penetratin-Cys HeLa 3 0.68 0.05 4 dCM18-Penetratin-Cys HeLa 3 0.84 0.07 1 + 3 CM18-TAT-Cys + HeLa 1 27.26 3.61 CM18-Penetratin-Cys 3 2 + 3 dCM18-TAT-Cys + HeLa 1 25.47 3.77 CM18-Penetratin-Cys 3 1 + 4 CM18-TAT-Cys + HeLa 1 31.47 4.59 dCM18-Penetratin-Cys 3 2 + 4 dCM18-TAT-Cys + HeLa 1 28.74 2.93 dCM18-Penetratin-Cys 3

The results in Tables 5.2 and 5.3 and FIGS. 14 and 15 show that the transduction efficiency of GFP-NLS is increased in HeLa cells using the shuttle agents CM18-TAT-Cys and dCM18-TAT-Cys (see bars “1” and “2” in

FIGS. 14 and 15). Although no GFP-NLS intracellular delivery was observed using CM18-Penetratin-Cys or dCM18-Penetratin-Cys alone (see bars “3” and “4” in FIGS. 14 and 15), combination of CM18-TAT-Cys with CM18-Penetratin-Cys (monomer or dimer) improved GFP-NLS intracellular delivery (see four right-most bars in FIGS. 14 and 15).

5.5 GFP-NLS Transduction by Shuttle Agents in HeLa Cells: 5 Min v. 1 h Incubation; with or without FBS

HeLa cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assay described in Example 3.1. GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM) was co-incubated with either CM18-TAT-Cys (3.5 μM) alone or with dCM18-Penetratin-Cys (1 μM). Cells were incubated for 5 minutes or 1 hour in plain DMEM media (“DMEM”) or DMEM media containing 10% FBS (“FBS”), before being subjected to flow cytometry analysis as described in Example 3.3. The results are shown in Table 5.4, and in FIG. 16. Cells that were not treated with shuttle agent or GFP-NLS (“ctrl”), and cells that were treated with GFP-NLS without shuttle agent (“GFP-NLS 5 μM”) were used as controls.

TABLE 5.4 Data in FIG. 16 No. in Incubation Shuttle Conc. Mean (%) Standard Shuttle FIG. 16 Cells Medium time (μM) (n = 3) deviation No shuttle (Ctrl) 1 HeLa DMEM 1 h 0 0.59 0.09 GFP-NLS alone 2 HeLa DMEM 1 h 0 1.19 0.31 CM18-TAT-Cys 3 HeLa DMEM 1 h 3.5 20.69 1.19 4 HeLa FBS 1 h 3.5 13.20 0.82 CM18-TAT-Cys 5 HeLa DMEM  5 min 3.5 20.45 4.26 6 HeLa FBS  5 min 3.5 10.83 1.25 No shuttle (Ctrl) 1 HeLa DMEM 1 h 0 0.53 0.11 GFP-NLS alone 2 HeLa DMEM 1 h 0 1.25 0.40 CM18-TAT-Cys + 3 HeLa DMEM 1 h 3.5 27.90 2.42 dCM18-Penetratin- 1 Cys 4 HeLa FBS 1 h 3.5 8.35 0.46 1 CM18-TAT-Cys + 5 HeLa DMEM  5 min 3.5 24.10 2.76 dCM18-Penetratin- 1 Cys 6 HeLa FBS  5 min 3.5 5.02 0.72 1

The results in Table 5.4 and FIG. 16 show that the addition of even a relatively low amount of the dimer dCM18-Penetratin-Cys (1 μM; “dCM18pen”) to the CM18-TAT-Cys monomer improved GFP-NLS transduction efficiency. Interestingly, intracellular GFP-NLS delivery was achieved in as little as 5 minutes of incubation, and delivery was still achievable (although reduced) in the presence of FBS.

5.6 GFP-NLS Transduction by Shuttle Agents in THP-1 Suspension Cells

The ability of the shuttle agents to deliver GFP-NLS intracellularly was tested in THP-1 cells, which is an acute monocytic leukemia cell line that grows in suspension. THP-1 cells were cultured (see Example 1) and tested in the protein transduction assay described in Example 3.1. GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM) was co-incubated with or without 1 μM CM18-TAT-Cys, and exposed to the THP-1 cells for 5 minutes, before being subjected to flow cytometry analysis as described in Example 3.3. The results are shown in Table 5.5 and in FIG. 17A. Corresponding cellular toxicity data are presented in FIG. 17B.

TABLE 5.5 Data in FIG. 17A and 17B FIG. 17A FIG. 17B Shuttle Mean Cell viability Conc. (%) Standard (%) (±St. Shuttle Cells (μM) (n = 3) deviation Dev.; n = 3) No shuttle (Ctrl) THP-1 0 1.23 0.16 95 ± 4 GFP-NLS alone 0 2.49 0.37 96 ± 3 CM18-TAT-Cys 1 38.1 4.16 85 ± 6

The results in Table 5.5 and FIG. 17A-17B demonstrate the ability of the shuttle agents to deliver protein cargo intracellularly to a human monocytic cell line grown in suspension.

Example 6 Peptide Shuttle Agents Increase Transduction Efficiency of an FITC-Labeled Anti-Tubulin Antibody

The experiments in Examples 3-5 showed the ability of shuttle agents to increase the transduction efficiency of GFP, TAT-GFP, and GFP-NLS. The experiments presented in this example show that the shuttle agents can also deliver a larger protein cargo: an FITC-labeled anti-tubulin antibody. The FITC-labeled anti-tubulin antibody was purchased from (Abcam, ab64503) and has an estimated molecular weight of 150 KDa. The delivery and microscopy protocols are described in Example 3.

6.1 Transduction of a Functional Antibody by CM18-TAT-Cys in HeLa Cells: Visualization by Microscopy

FITC-labeled anti-tubulin antibody (0.5 μM) was co-incubated with 5 μM of CM18-TAT-Cys and exposed to HeLa cells for 1 hour. Antibody delivery was visualized by bright field (20×) and fluorescence microscopy (20× and 40×). As shown in FIG. 18, fluorescent tubulin fibers in the cytoplasm were visualized, demonstrating the functionality of the antibody inside the cell.

6.2 Transduction of a Functional Antibody by CM18-TAT-Cys, CM18-Penetratin-Cys, and Dimers in Hela Cells: Flow Cytometry

HeLa cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assay described in Example 3.1. FITC-labeled anti-tubulin antibody (0.5 μM) was co-incubated with 3.5 μM of CM18-TAT-Cys, CM18-Penetratin-Cys or dCM18-Penetratin-Cys, or a combination of 3.5 μM of CM18-TAT-Cys and 0.5 μM of dCM18-Penetratin-Cys, and exposed to HeLa cells for 1 hour. The cells were subjected to flow cytometry analysis as described in Example 3.3. Results are shown in Table 6.1 and FIG. 19A. Corresponding cellular toxicity data are presented in FIG. 19B.

TABLE 6.1 Data from FIG. 19A and 19B FIG. 19A FIG. 19B Shuttle Conc. Mean (%) Standard Cell viability (%) Domains Shuttle agent Cells (μM) (n = 3) deviation (±St. Dev.; n = 3) — No shuttle (“Ctrl”) HeLa 0 0.9 0.06 98 ± 1.0 — Antibody alone HeLa 0 2.66 0.61 96 ± 3.4 (“antibody”) ELD-CPD CM18-TAT-Cys HeLa 3.5 36.56 4.06  95 ± 4.06 CM18-Penetratin- HeLa 3.5 53.05 9.5 73 ± 9.5 Cys ELD-CPD dimer dCM18-Penetratin- HeLa 3.5 50.23 9.12 74 ± 9.0 Cys ELD-CPD + CM18-TAT-Cys + HeLa 3.5 47.19 8.5 93 ± 8.5 ELD-CPD dimer dCM18-Penetratin-Cys 0.5

The results in Table 6.1 and FIGS. 18A-18C and 19A-19B show that both CM18-TAT-Cys and CM18-Penetratin-Cys facilitate intracellular delivery of an FITC-labeled anti-tubulin antibody. In contrast to the results with GFP, TAT-GFP, and GFP-NLS in Examples 3-5, CM18-Penetratin-Cys was able to deliver the antibody cargo intracellularly when used alone (without CM18-TAT-Cys). However, combination of CM18-TAT-Cys and dCM18-Penetratin-Cys allowed for higher intracellular delivery as compared with CM18-TAT-Cys alone, and with less cell toxicity as compared to CM18-Penetratin-Cys and dCM18-Penetratin-Cys (see FIGS. 19A and 19B).

Example 7 CM18-TAT-Cys Enables Intracellular Plasmid DNA Delivery but Poor Plasmid Expression

The ability of the CM18-TAT-Cys shuttle agent to deliver plasmid DNA intracellularly was tested in this example on HEK293A cells using a plasmid encoding GFP.

7.1 Transfection Assay in HEK293A Cells

One day before the transfection assay was performed, mammalian cells (HEK293A) in exponential growth phase were harvested and plated in a 24-well plate (50,000 cells per well). The cells were incubated overnight in appropriate growth media containing FBS. The next day, in separate sterile 1.5 mL tubes, pEGFP labeled with a Cy5™ fluorochrome was mixed for 10 min at 37° C. with CM18-TAT-Cys (0.05, 0.5, or 5 NM) in fresh PBS at a final 100 μL volume. The media in wells was removed and the cells were quickly washed three times with PBS and 500 μL of warm media without FBS was added. The pEGFP and CM18-TAT-Cys solution was added to the cells and incubated at 37° C. for 4 hours. After the incubation, cells were washed with PBS and fresh media containing FBS was added. Cells were incubated at 37° C. before being subjected to flow cytometry analysis as described in Example 3.

7.2 Plasmid DNA Delivery with CM18-TAT-Cys

Plasmid DNA (pEGFP) was labeled with a Cy5™ dye following the manufacturer's instructions (Mirus Bio LLC). Cy5™ Moiety did not influence transfection efficiency when compared to unlabelled plasmid using standard transfection protocol (data not shown). Flow cytometry analysis allowed quantification of Cy5™ emission, corresponding to DNA intracellular delivery, and GFP emission, corresponding to successful nuclear delivery, DNA transcription and protein expression. The results are shown in Table 7.1 and in FIG. 20.

TABLE 7.1 Data from FIG. 20 Cy5 ™ fluorescence GFP expression Mean Cy5 ™ Mean (% of cells DNA signal Standard with GFP signal; Standard Sample (ng) (n = 3) deviation n = 3) deviation pEGFP-Cy5 alone 500  914 0 0.0% n/a CM18-TAT-Cys, 500 1450 120 0.0% n/a 0.05 μM CM18-TAT-Cys, 500 8362 294 0.0% n/a 0.5 μM CM18-TAT-Cys, 500 140 497   3977 0.1% n/a 5 μM

The results shown in Table 7.1 and in FIG. 20 show that CM18-TAT-Cys was able to increase the intracellular delivery the plasmid DNA when used at 0.05, 0.5 and 5 μM concentrations, as compared to cell incubated with DNA alone (“pEGFP-Cy5”). However, no expression of GFP was detected in the cells, which suggests that very little of the plasmid DNA gained access to the cytoplasmic compartment, allowing nuclear localization. Without being bound by theory, it is possible that the plasmid DNA was massively sequestered in endosomes, preventing escape to the cytoplasmic compartment. Salomone et al., 2013 reported the use of a CM18-TAT11 hybrid peptide to deliver plasmid DNA intracellularly. They used the luciferase enzyme reporter assay to assess transfection efficiency, which may not be ideal for quantifying the efficiency of cytoplasmic/nuclear delivery, as the proportion of plasmid DNA that is successfully released from endosomes and delivered to the nucleus may be overestimated due to the potent activity of the luciferase enzyme. In this regard, the authors of Salomone et al., 2013 even noted that the expression of luciferase occurs together with a massive entrapment of (naked) DNA molecules into vesicles, which is consistent with the results shown in Table 7.1 and in FIG. 20.

Example 8 Addition of a Histidine-Rich Domain to Shuttle Agents Further Improves GFP-NLS Transduction Efficiency

8.1 GFP-NLS Transduction by his-CM18-TAT-Cys in HeLa Cells: Visualization by Microscopy

GFP-NLS (5 μM; see Example 5) was co-incubated with 5 μM of CM18-TAT-Cys or His-CM18-TAT and exposed to HeLa cells for 1 hour. Nuclear fluorescence of intracellularly delivered GFP-NLS was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy (data not shown), indicating successful delivery of GFP-NLS to the nucleus.

8.2 GFP-NLS Transduction by his-CM18-TAT in HeLa Cells: Flow Cytometry

HeLa cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assay described in Example 3.1. GFP-NLS (5 μM) was co-incubated with 0, 1, 3, or 5 μM of CM18-TAT-Cys or His-CM18-TAT, and exposed to HeLa cells for 1 hour. The cells were subjected to flow cytometry analysis as described in Example 3.3. Results are shown in Table 8.1 and FIG. 21A. Corresponding cellular toxicity data are presented in FIG. 21B.

TABLE 8.1 Data from FIG. 21A and 21B FIG. 21A FIG. 21B Shuttle Mean (%) cell Cell viability Conc. with GFP signal Standard (%) (±St. Shuttle agent Cells (μM) (n = 3) deviation Dev.; n = 3) Ctrl (no shuttle, HeLa 0 0.63 0.10 96 ± 3.17 no GFP-NLS) GFP-NLS alone 0 0.93 0.26 97 ± 2.05 CM18-TAT-Cys 5 20.54 3.51 81 ± 6.34 3 15.66 2.18 89 ± 5.37 1 8.64 1.11 94 ± 4.28 Ctrl (no shuttle, HeLa 0 0.51 0.28 95 ± 4.19 no GFP-NLS) GFP-NLS alone 0 1.07 0.42 96 ± 3.16 His-CM18-TAT 5 41.38 4.59 86 ± 4.59 3 29.58 3.61 91 ± 5.18 1 8.45 1.83 95 ± 3.55

Strikingly, the results in Table 8.1 and in FIG. 21A-21B show that His-CM18-TAT was able to increase GFP-NLS protein transduction efficiency by about 2-fold at 3 μM and 5 μM concentrations, as compared to CM18-TAT-Cys. These results suggest that adding a histidine-rich domain to a shuttle agent comprising an ELD and CPD, may significantly increase its polypeptide cargo transduction efficiency. Alternatively or in parallel, combining the shuttle agents with a further independent synthetic peptide containing a histidine-rich domain fused to a CPD (but lacking an ELD) may provide a similar advantage for protein transduction, with the added advantage of allowing the concentration of the histidine-rich domain to be varied or controlled independently from the concentration of the shuttle agent. Without being bound by theory, the histidine-rich domain may act as a proton sponge in the endosome, providing another mechanism of endosomal membrane destabilization.

Example 9 His-CM18-PTD4 Increases Transduction Efficiency and Nuclear Delivery of GFP-NLS, mCherry™-NLS and FITC-Labeled Anti-Tubulin Antibody

9.1 Protein Transduction Protocols

-   Protocol A: Protein Transduction Assay for Delivery in Cell Culture     Medium

One day before the transduction assay was performed, cells in exponential growth phase were harvested and plated in a 96-well plate (20,000 cells per well). The cells were incubated overnight in appropriate growth media containing FBS (see Example 1). The next day, in separate sterile 1.5-mL tubes, cargo protein at the desired concentration was pre-mixed (pre-incubated) for 10 min at 37° C. with the desired concentration of shuttle agents in 50 μL of fresh serum-free medium (unless otherwise specified). The media in wells was removed and the cells were washed one to three times (depending on the type of cells used) with PBS previously warmed at 37° C. The cells were incubated with the cargo protein/shuttle agent mixture at 37° C. for the desired length of time. After the incubation, the cells were washed three times with PBS and/or heparin (0.5 mg/mL) previously warmed at 37° C. The washes with heparin were used for human THP-1 blood cells to avoid undesired cell membrane-bound protein background in subsequent analyses (microscopy and flow cytometry). The cells were finally incubated in 50 μL of fresh medium with serum at 37° C. before analysis.

Protocol B: Protein Transduction Assay for Adherent Cells in PBS

One day before the transduction assay was performed, cells in exponential growth phase were harvested and plated in a 96-well plate (20,000 cells per well). The cells were incubated overnight in appropriate growth media containing serum (see Example 1). The next day, in separate sterile 1.5-mL tubes, shuttle agents were diluted in sterile distilled water at room temperature (if the cargo is or comprised a nucleic acid, nuclease-free water was used). Cargo protein(s) were then added to the shuttle agents and, if necessary, sterile PBS was added to obtain the desired concentrations of shuttle agent and cargo in a sufficient final volume to cover the cells (e.g., 10 to 100 μL per well for a 96-well plate). The shuttle agent/cargo mixture was then immediately used for experiments. At least three controls were included for each experiment, including: (1) shuttle agent alone (e.g., at highest concentration tested); (2) cargo alone; and (3) without any cargo or shuttle agent. The media in wells was removed, cells were washed once with PBS previously warmed at 37° C., and the shuttle agent/cargo mixture was then added to cover all cells for the desired length of time. The shuttle agent/cargo mixture in wells was removed, the cells were washed once with PBS, and fresh complete medium was added. Before analysis, the cells were washed once with PBS and fresh complete medium was added.

Protocol C: Protein Transduction Assay for Suspension Cells in PBS

One day before the transduction assay was performed, suspension cells in exponential growth phase were harvested and plated in a 96-well plate (20,000 cells per well). The cells were incubated overnight in appropriate growth media containing serum (see Example 1). The next day, in separate sterile 1.5-mL tubes, shuttle agents were diluted in sterile distilled water at room temperature (if the cargo is or comprised a nucleic acid, nuclease-free water was used). Cargo protein(s) were then added to the shuttle agents and, if necessary, sterile PBS or cell culture medium (serum-free) was added to obtain the desired concentrations of shuttle agent and cargo in a sufficient final volume to resuspend the cells (e.g., 10 to 100 μL per well in a 96-well plate). The shuttle agent/cargo mixture was then immediately used for experiments. At least three controls were included for each experiment, including: (1) shuttle agent alone (e.g., at highest concentration tested); (2) cargo alone; and (3) without any cargo or shuttle agent. The cells were centrifuged for 2 minutes at 400 g, the medium was then removed and the cells were resuspended in PBS previously warmed at 37° C. The cells were centrifuged again 2 minutes at 400 g, the PBS removed, and the cells were resuspended in the shuttle agent/cargo mixture. After the desired incubation time, 100 μL of complete medium was added directly on the cells. Cells were centrifuged for 2 minutes at 400 g and the medium was removed. The pellet was resuspended and washed in 200 μL of PBS previously warmed at 37° C. After another centrifugation, the PBS was removed and the cells were resuspended in 100 μL of complete medium. The last two steps were repeated one time before analysis.

9.2 GFP-NLS Transduction by his-CM18-PTD4 in HeLa Cells Using Protocol A or B: Flow Cytometry

To compare the effects of different protocols on shuttle agent transduction efficiency, HeLa cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assays using Protocol A or B as described in Example 9.1. Briefly, GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM; see Example 5.1) was co-incubated with 10 μM of His-CM18-PTD4 and exposed to HeLa cells for 1 hour using Protocol A, or was co-incubated with 35 μM of His-CM18-PTD4 and exposed to HeLa cells for 10 seconds using Protocol B. The cells were subjected to flow cytometry analysis as described in Example 3.3. Results are shown in Table 9.1 and FIG. 22A. (“Pos cells (%)” is the percentage of cells emanating a GFP signal).

TABLE 9.1 Comparison of Protein Transduction Protocols A and B: Data from FIG. 22A Conc. of Conc. of Mean % cells with shuttle GFP-NLS GFP signal Cell viability (%) Protocol Shuttle Cells (μM) (μM) (±St. Dev.; n = 3) (±St. Dev.; n = 3) B None (“Ctrl”) HeLa 0 5  0.53 ± 0.07 100 A His-CM18-PTD4 HeLa 10 5 25.4 ± 3.6 96.4 ± 2.7 B His-CM18-PTD4 HeLa 35 5 78.3 ± 5.3 94.6 ± 0.4

The above results show that higher protein transduction efficiency for the cargo GFP-NLS using the shuttle agent His-CM18-PTD4 was obtained using Protocol B, as compared to Protocol A.

9.3 GFP-NLS Transduction by his-CM18-PTD4 in HeLa Cells Using Protocol B: Flow Cytometry

A dose response experiment was performed to evaluate the effect of His-CM18-PTD4 concentration on protein transduction efficiency. HeLa cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assay described in Protocol B of Example 9.1. Briefly, GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM; see Example 5.1) was co-incubated with 0, 50, 35, 25, or 10 μM of His-CM18-PTD4, and then exposed to HeLa cells for 10 seconds. The cells were subjected to flow cytometry analysis as described in Example 3.3. Results are shown in Table 9.2 and FIG. 22B.

TABLE 9.2 Dose response of shuttle agent using Protocol B: Data from FIG. 22B Conc. of Conc. of Mean % cells with shuttle GFP-NLS GFP signal Cell viability (%) Protocol Shuttle Cells (μM) (μM) (±St. Dev.; n = 3) (±St. Dev.; n = 3) B None (“Ctrl”) HeLa 0 5 0.13 ± 0.1 100 ± 0  His-CM18-PTD4 50 5 73.2 ± 5.2 69.2 ± 2.7 35 5 77.7 ± 7.8 79.6 ± 5.9 25 5 62.1 ± 6.1 95.3 ± 3.7 10 5 25.3 ± 3.6 96.3 ± 2.3

The above results show that His-CM18-PTD4 is able to increase GFP-NLS transduction efficiency in HeLa cells in a dose-dependent manner.

9.4 GFP-NLS Transduction by his-CM18-PTD4 in HeLa Cells Using Protocol B: Visualization by Microscopy

GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM; see Example 5.1) was co-incubated with 35 μM of His-CM18-PTD4, and then exposed to HeLa cells for 10 seconds using Protocol B as described in Example 9.1. The cells were then subjected to fluorescence microscopy analysis as described in Examples 3.2 and 3.2a.

For the sample results shown in FIGS. 23A-23D and 24A-24B, GFP fluorescence of the HeLa cells was immediately visualized by bright field and fluorescence microscopy at 4×, 20× and 40× magnifications after the final washing step.

In FIGS. 23A-23D, the upper panels in FIGS. 23A, 23B and 23C show nuclei labelling (DAPI) at 4×, 20× and 40× magnifications, respectively, while the lower respective panels show corresponding GFP-NLS fluorescence. In FIG. 23C, white triangle windows indicate examples of areas of co-labelling between nuclei (DAPI) and GFP-NLS signals. In FIG. 23D, the upper and bottom panels show sample bright field images of the HeLa cells, and the middle panel shows the results of a corresponding FACS analysis (performed as described in Example 3.3), which indicates the percentage of cells in a 96-plate with a GFP signal. No significant GFP fluorescence was observed in negative control samples (i.e., cells exposed to GFP-NLS without any shuttle agent; data not shown).

FIGS. 24A-24B shows bright field (FIG. 24A) and fluorescent images (FIG. 24B). The inset in FIG. 24B shows the results of a corresponding FACS analysis (performed as described in Example 3.3), which indicates the percentage of cells in a 96-plate well with a GFP signal. No significant GFP fluorescence was observed in negative control samples (i.e., cells exposed to GFP-NLS without any shuttle agent; data not shown).

For the sample results shown in FIGS. 25A-25B, the HeLa cells were fixed, permeabilized and subjected to immuno-labelling as described in Example 3.2a before visualization by fluorescence microscopy as described in Example 3.2. GFP-NLS was labelled using a primary mouse monoclonal anti-GFP antibody (Feldan, #A017) and a secondary goat anti-mouse Alexa™-594 antibody (Abcam #150116). The upper panels in FIGS. 25A-25B show nuclei labelling (DAPI), and the lower respective panels show corresponding labelling for GFP-NLS. FIGS. 25A and 25B show sample images at 20× and 40× magnifications, respectively. White triangle windows indicate examples of areas of co-labelling between nuclei and GFP-NLS. No significant GFP-NLS labelling was observed in negative control samples (i.e., cells exposed to GFP-NLS without any shuttle agent; data not shown).

FIG. 26A-26C shows sample images captured with confocal microscopy at 63× magnification of living cells. FIG. 26A shows a bright field image, while FIG. 26B shows the corresponding fluorescent GFP-NLS. FIG. 26C is an overlay between the images in FIGS. 26A and 26B. No significant GFP-NLS fluorescence was observed in negative control samples (i.e., cells exposed to GFP-NLS without any shuttle agent; data not shown).

9.4a FTIC-Labeled Anti-Tubulin Antibody Transduction by his-CM18-PTD4 in HeLa Cells Using Protocol B: Visualization by Microscopy

FITC-labeled anti-tubulin antibody (0.5 μM; Abcam, ab64503) was co-incubated with 50 μM of His-CM18-PTD4, and then exposed to HeLa cells for 10 seconds using Protocol B as described in Example 9.1. The cells were then subjected to fluorescence microscopy analysis as described in Examples 3.2 and 3.2a, wherein the FITC fluorescence of the anti-tubulin antibody in the HeLa cells was immediately visualized by bright field and fluorescence microscopy at 20× magnification after the final washing step. No significant FITC fluorescence was observed in negative control samples (i.e., cells exposed to the FITC-labeled anti-tubulin antibody without any shuttle agent; data not shown).

Overall, the results in Examples 9.4 and 9.4a show that GFP-NLS and FITC-labeled anti-tubulin antibody cargos are successfully transduced and delivered to the nucleus and/or the cytosol of HeLa cells in the presence of the shuttle agent His-CM18-PTD4.

9.5 GFP-NLS Kinetic Transduction by his-CM18-PTD4 in HeLa Cells: Visualization by Microscopy

GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM; see Example 5.1) was co-incubated with 50 μM of His-CM18-PTD4, and then exposed to HeLa cells for 10 seconds using Protocol B as described in Example 9.1. After a washing step, the GFP fluorescence of the HeLa cells was immediately visualized by fluorescence microscopy (Example 3.2) at 20× magnification after different intervals of time. Typical results are shown in FIGS. 27A to 27D, in which fluorescence microscopy images were captured after 45, 75, 100, and 120 seconds (see FIGS. 27A, 27B, 27C and 27D, respectively).

As shown in FIG. 27A, diffuse cellular GFP fluorescence was generally observed after 45 seconds, with areas of lower GFP fluorescence in the nucleus in many cells. These results suggest predominantly cytoplasmic and low nuclear distribution of the GPF-NLS delivered intracellularly via the shuttle agent after 45 seconds. FIGS. 27B to 27D show the gradual redistribution of GFP fluorescence to the cell nuclei at 75 seconds (FIG. 27B), 100 seconds (FIG. 27C), and 120 seconds (FIG. 27D) following exposure to the His-CM18-PTD4 shuttle agent and GFP-NLS cargo. No significant cellular GFP fluorescence was observed in negative control samples (i.e., cells exposed to GFP-NLS without any shuttle agent; data not shown).

The results in Example 9.5 show that GFP-NLS is successfully delivered to the nucleus of HeLa cells in the presence of the shuttle agent His-CM18-PTD4 by 2 minutes.

9.6 GFP-NLS and mCherry™-NLS Co-Transduction by his-CM18-PTD4 in HeLa Cells: Visualization by Microscopy

mCherry™-NLS recombinant protein was constructed, expressed and purified from a bacterial expression system as described in Example 1.4. The sequence of the mCherry™-NLS recombinant protein was:

[SEQ ID NO: 73] MHHHHHHGGGGSGGGGSGGASTGIRMVSKCEEDNMAIIKEFMRFKVHM EGSVNGHEFEIEGEGEGRPYEGTQTAKLKVTKGGPLPFAWDILSPQFM YGSKAYVKHPADIPDYLKLSFPEGFKWERVMNFEDGGVVTVTQDSSLQ DGEFIYKVKLRGTNFPSDGQVMQKKTMGWEASSERMYPEDGALKGEIK QRLKLKDGGHYDAEVKTTYKAKKPVQLPGAYNVNIKLDITSHNEDYTI VEQYERAEGRHSTGGMDELYKGGSGGGSGGGSGWIRASSGGR SSDDEA TADSQHAAPPKKKRKV GGSGGGSGGGSGGGRGTEIS (MW = 34.71 kDa; pI = 6.68) NLS sequence is underlined Serine/glycine rich linkers are in bold

GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM; see Example 5.1) and mCherry™-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM) were co-incubated together with 35 μM of His-CM18-PTD4, and then exposed to HeLa cells for 10 seconds using Protocol B as described in Example 9.1. After washing steps, the cells were immediately visualized by bright field and fluorescence microscopy at 20× magnifications as described in Example 3.2. Sample results are shown in FIG. 28A-28D, in which corresponding images showing bright field (FIG. 28A), DAPI fluorescence (FIG. 28B), GFP-NLS fluorescence (FIG. 28C), and mCherry™-NLS fluorescence (FIG. 28D) are shown. White triangle windows indicate examples of areas of co-labelling between GFP-NLS and mCherry™ fluorescence signals in cell nuclei. No significant cellular GFP or mCherry™ fluorescence was observed in negative control samples (i.e., cells exposed to GFP-NLS or mCherry™ without any shuttle agent; data not shown).

These results show that GFP-NLS and mCherry™-NLS are successfully delivered together to the nucleus in HeLa cells in the presence of the shuttle agent His-CM18-PTD4.

9.7 GFP-NLS Transduction by his-CM18-PTD4 in THP-1 Suspension Cells: Flow Cytometry

The ability of the His-CM18-PTD4 to deliver GFP-NLS in the nuclei of suspension cells was tested using THP-1 cells. THP-1 cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assays using Protocols A and C as described in Example 9.1. GFP-NLS (5 μM; see Example 5.1) was co-incubated with 1 μM of His-CM18-PTD4 and exposed to THP-1 cells for 1 hour (Protocol A), or was co-incubated with 5 μM of His-CM18-PTD4 and exposed to THP-1 cells for 15 seconds (Protocol C). The cells were subjected to flow cytometry analysis as described in Example 3.3. Results are shown in Table 9.3 and in FIG. 31.

TABLE 9.3 Data from FIG. 31 Conc. of Conc. of Mean % cells with shuttle GFP-NLS GFP signal Cell viability (%) Protocol Shuttle Cells (μM) (μM) (±St. Dev.; n = 3) (±St. Dev.; n = 3) C No shuttle (“Ctrl”) THP-1 0 5  0.2 ± 0.03 99.1 ± 0.7 A His-CM18-PTD4 1 5 14.2 ± 2.2 96.9 ± 3.6 C His-CM18-PTD4 0.5 5 34.9 ± 3.8 82.1 ± 2.7 5 5 64.1 ± 1.6 64.0 ± 4.1 9.8 GFP-NLS Transduction by his-CM18-PTD4 in THP-1 Cells: Visualization by Microscopy

GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM; see Example 5.1) was co-incubated with 5 μM of His-CM18-PTD4, and then exposed to THP-1 cells for 15 seconds using Protocol C as described in Example 9.1. The cells were subjected to microscopy visualization as described in Example 3.2.

For the sample results shown in FIG. 32A-32D, GFP fluorescence of the HeLa cells was immediately visualized by bright field (upper panels in FIGS. 32A-32C) and fluorescence (lower panels in FIGS. 32A-32C) microscopy at 4×, 10× and 40× magnifications (FIGS. 32A-32C, respectively) after the final washing step. White triangle windows in FIG. 32C indicate examples of areas of co-labelling between bright field and fluorescence images. FIG. 32D shows typical results of a corresponding FACS analysis (performed as described in Example 3.3), which indicates the percentage of cells in a 96-plate well with a GFP signal. Additional results are shown in FIG. 33A-33D, in which FIGS. 33A and 33B show bright field images, and FIGS. 33C and 33D show corresponding fluorescence images. White triangle windows indicate examples of areas of co-labelling between FIGS. 33A and 33C, as well as FIGS. 33B and 33D. The right-most panel shows typical results of a corresponding FACS analysis (performed as described in Example 3.3), which indicates the percentage of cells in a 96-plate well with a GFP signal.

No significant cellular GFP fluorescence was observed in negative control samples (i.e., cells exposed to GFP-NLS without any shuttle agent; data not shown).

The results in this example show that GFP-NLS is successfully delivered intracellularly in THP-1 cells in the presence of the shuttle agent His-CM18-PTD4.

Example 10 Different Multi-Domain Shuttle Agents, but not Single-Domain Peptides, Successfully Transduce GFP-NLS in HeLa and THP-1 Cells

10.1 GFP-NLS Transduction by Different Shuttle Agents in HeLa Cells: Flow Cytometry

HeLa cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assays using Protocol B as described in Example 9.1. Briefly, GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM; see Example 5.1) was co-incubated with 50 μM of different shuttle agents and exposed to the HeLa cells for 10 seconds. The cells were subjected to flow cytometry analysis as described in Example 3.3. Results are shown in Table 10.1 and FIG. 29A. “Pos cells (%)” is the mean percentages of all cells that emanate a GFP signal. The negative control (“Ctrl”) corresponds to cells that were incubated with GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM) without any shuttle agent.

TABLE 10.1 Data from FIG. 29A Conc. of Conc. of Mean % cells with shuttle GFP-NLS GFP signal Cell viability (%) Protocol Shuttle agent Cells (μM) (μM) (±St. Dev.; n = 3) (±St. Dev.; n = 3) B No shuttle (“ctrl”) HeLa 0 5 0 100 His-CM18-TAT HeLa 50 55.5 ± 3.6 35.2 ± 5.7 His-CM18- HeLa 33.2 ± 2.8 41.3 ± 3.3 Transportan (TPT) TAT-KALA HeLa 56.3 ± 3.6 95.6 ± 4.3 His-CM18-PTD4 HeLa  68 ± 2.2  92 ± 3.6 His-CM18-9Arg HeLa 57.2 ± 3.9 45.8 ± 5.4 TAT-CM18 HeLa 39.4 ± 3.9 23.5 ± 1.1 His-C(LLKK)₃C- HeLa  76 ± 3.8  95 ± 2.7 PTD4 His-LAH4-PTD4 HeLa   63 ± 1.64  98 ± 1.5 PTD4-KALA HeLa  73.4 ± 4.12  91.4 ± 3.67 10.2 GFP-NLS Transduction by Different Shuttle Agents with Varying Incubation Times in HeLa Cells: Flow Cytometry

HeLa cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assays using Protocol B as described in Example 9.1. Briefly, GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM; see Example 5.1) was co-incubated with 10 μM of TAT-KALA, His-CM18-PTD4, or His-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4 for 1, 2, or 5 minutes. After the final washing step, the cells were subjected to flow cytometry analysis as described in Example 3.3. Results are shown in Table 10.2 and FIG. 29B. “Pos cells (%)” is the mean percentages of all cells that emanate a GFP signal. The negative control (“Ctrl”) corresponds to cells that were incubated with GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM) without any shuttle agent.

TABLE 10.2 Data from FIG. 29B Conc. of Mean % cells with shuttle Incubation GFP signal Cell viability (%) Protocol Shuttle agent Cells (μM) time (±St. Dev.; n = 3) (±St. Dev.; n = 3) — No shuttle (“Ctrl”) HeLa 0 5 min.   0 ± n/a 97.5 ± 1.7 B TAT-KALA HeLa 10 1 min. 83.7 ± 3.5 93.5 ± 2.7 2 min. 86.2 ± 4.3 92.1 ± 3.1 5 min. 68.1 ± 3.0  86 ± 4.4 His-CM18-PTD4 HeLa 10 1 min. 50.6 ± 3.5 97.6 ± 2.7 2 min.  74 ± 3.3 80.9 ± 3.2 5 min. 82.7 ± 5.0 66.2 ± 4.4 His-C(LLKK)₃C- HeLa 10 1 min. 51.1 ± 3.5 99.5 ± 2.7 PTD4 2 min. 77.8 ± 4.3 94.3 ± 3.2 5 min. 86.4 ± 4.0 80.8 ± 4.4 10.3 GFP-NLS Transduction by TAT-KALA, his-CM18-PTD4 and his-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4 with Varying Incubation Times in HeLa Cells: Flow Cytometry

HeLa cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assays using Protocol C as described in Example 9.1. Briefly, GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM; see Example 5.1) was co-incubated with 5 μM of TAT-KALA, His-CM18-PTD4, or His-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4 for 1, 2, or 5 minutes. After the final washing step, the cells were subjected to flow cytometry analysis as described in Example 3.3. Results are shown in Table 10.3 and FIG. 29C. The negative control (“Ctrl”) corresponds to cells that were incubated with GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM) without any shuttle agent.

TABLE 10.3 Data from FIG. 29C Relative Conc. of fluorescence shuttle Incubation intensity (FL1-A) Protocol Shuttle agent Cells (μM) time (n = 3) St. Dev. No shuttle (“Ctrl”) 0 5 min.   8903 501 C TAT-KALA HeLa 10 1 min. 216 367 13 863.48 2 min. 506 158 14 536.28 5 min.  78 010  2 463.96 His-CM18-PTD4 HeLa 10 1 min. 524 151 12 366.48 2 min. 755 624 26 933.16 5 min. 173 930 15 567.33 His-C(LLKK)₃C- HeLa 10 1 min. 208 968 23 669.19 PTD4 2 min.   262 411.5 19 836.84 5 min. 129 890 16 693.29 10.4 GFP-NLS Transduction by Different Shuttle Agents in HeLa Cells: Flow Cytometry

HeLa cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assays using Protocol B as described in Example 9.1. Briefly, GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM; see Example 5.1) was co-incubated with 50 μM of different shuttle agents (see Table 1.3 for amino acid sequences and properties) and exposed to the HeLa cells for 10 seconds. The cells were subjected to flow cytometry analysis as described in Example 3.3. Results are shown in Tables 10.3a & 10.3b and FIGS. 29E & 29F. “Pos cells (%)” is the mean percentages of all cells that emanate a GFP signal. The negative control (“Ctrl”) corresponds to cells that were incubated with GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM) without any shuttle agent.

TABLE 10.3a Data from FIG. 29E Mean % cells Conc. of Conc. of with GFP signal Cell viability Domain shuttle GFP-NLS (±St. Dev.; (%) (±St. structure Shuttle agent (μM) (μM) n = 3) Dev.; n = 3) — No shuttle (“Ctrl”) 0 5 0 100 ELD-CPD VSVG-PTD4 50 5 3.5 ± 1.1 100 EB1-PTD4 75.8 ± 8.26  39 ± 5.6 JST-PTD4 0.84 ± 0.69 98.9 ± 0.57 His-ELD-CPD His-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4 50 5  76 ± 3.8  95 ± 2.7 His-LAH4-PTD4  63 ± 1.64  98 ± 1.5 His-CM18-PTD4  68 ± 2.2  92 ± 3.6 His-CM18-TAT 55.5 ± 3.6  35.2 ± 5.7  His-CM18-TAT-Cys* 49.3 ± 4.1  41.4 ± 3.91 His-CM18-9Arg 57.2 ± 3.93 45.8 ± 3.53 His-CM18-Transportan (TPT) 33.2 ± 2.82 41.3 ± 3.29 *Not shown in FIG. 29E.

TABLE 10.3b Data from FIG. 29F Mean % cells Conc. of Conc. of with GFP signal Cell viability Domain shuttle GFP-NLS (±St. Dev.; (%) (±St. structure Shuttle agent (μM) (μM) n = 3) Dev.; n = 3) — No shuttle (“Ctrl”) 0 5 0 100 CPD-ELD TAT-CM18 50 5 39.4 ± 3.9  23.5 ± 1.1  TAT-KALA 56.3 ± 3.6  95.6 ± 4.3  PTD4-KALA 73.4 ± 4.12 91.4 ± 3.67 9Arg-KALA  7.8 ± 1.53 62.8 ± 5.11 Pep1-KALA 17.2 ± 3.07 94.7 ± 3.77 Xentry-KALA 19.4 ± 1.01 98.3 ± 0.64 SynB3-KALA 14.3 ± 2.37 91.1 ± 0.82

HeLa cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assays using Protocol B as described in Example 9.1. Briefly, GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM; see Example 5.1) was co-incubated with 10 μM of TAT-KALA, His-CM18-PTD4, or His-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4 for 1, 2, or 5 minutes. After the final washing step, the cells were subjected to flow cytometry analysis as described in Example 3.3. Results are shown in Tables 10.3c & 10.3b and FIGS. 29G and 29H. “Pos cells (%)” is the mean percentages of all cells that emanate a GFP signal. The negative control (“Ctrl”) corresponds to cells that were incubated with GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM) without any shuttle agent.

TABLE 10.3c Data from FIG. 29G Conc. of Conc. of Incubation Mean % cells with Domain shuttle GFP-NLS time GFP signal Cell viability (%) structure Shuttle agent (μM) (μM) (min) (±St. Dev.; n = 3) (±St. Dev.; n = 3) — No shuttle (“Ctrl”) 0 5 5   0 ± n/a 98.3 ± 0.9 CPD-ELD PTD4-KALA 10 5 1 64.6 ± 4.3 96.2 ± 3.0 2 78.8 ± 3.6 75.3 ± 3.8 5 71.4 ± 4.2 82.4 ± 4.7 ELD-CPD EB1-PTD4 10 5 1 76.3 ± 3.5 61.7 ± 2.7 2 79.0 ± 3.3 56.6 ± 3.2 5 71.1 ± 5.0 55.8 ± 4.4 His-ELD-CPD- His-CM18-PTD4- 10 5 1 68.6 ± 3.5 68.1 ± 2.7 His His 2 74.1 ± 4.3 61.6 ± 3.2 5 59.8 ± 4.0 41.2 ± 4.4

TABLE 10.3d Data from FIG. 29H Relative Fluorescence Conc. of Conc. of Incubation Intensity (FL1-A) Domain shuttle GFP-NLS time (±St. Dev.; structure Shuttle agent (μM) (μM) (min) n = 3) — No shuttle (“Ctrl”) 0 5 5   8903 ± 501.37 CPD-ELD PTD4-KALA 10 5 1 190 287 ± 9445  2 386 480 ± 17 229 5 241 230 ± 14 229 ELD-CPD EB1-PTD4 10 5 1 178 000 ± 11 934 2 277 476 ± 25 319 5 376 555 ± 16 075 His-ELD-CPD-His His-CM18-PTD4-His 10 5 1 204 338 ± 22 673 2 307 329 ± 19 618 5 619 964 ± 17 411

The shuttle agent CM18-PTD4 was used as a model to demonstrate the modular nature of the individual protein domains, as well as their ability to be modified. More particularly, the presence or absence of: an N-terminal cysteine residue (“Cys”); different flexible linkers between the ELD and CPD domains (“Li”: GGS; “L2”: GGSGGGS; and “L3”: GGSGGGSGGGS) and different lengths, positions, and variants to histidine-rich domains; were studied.

HeLa cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assays using Protocol B as described in Example 9.1. Briefly, GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM; see Example 5.1) was co-incubated with 20 μM of different shuttle peptide variants (see Table 1.3 for amino acid sequences and properties) of the shuttle agent His-CM18-PTD4 for 1 minute. After the final washing step, the cells were subjected to flow cytometry analysis as described in Example 3.3. Results are shown in Table 10.3e and FIG. 291. “Pos cells (%)” is the mean percentages of all cells that emanate a GFP signal. The negative control (“Ctrl”) corresponds to cells that were incubated with GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM) without any shuttle agent.

TABLE 10.3e Data from FIG. 29I Mean % cells Conc. of Conc. of with GFP signal Cell viability Domain shuttle GFP-NLS (±St. Dev.; (%) (±St. structure Shuttle agent (μM) (μM) n = 3) Dev.; n = 3) — No shuttle (“Ctrl”) 0 5 0  99.6 ± 0.12 ELD-CPD CM18-PTD4 20 5 47.6 ± 2.6 33.9 ± 3.7 Cys-CM18-PTD4 36.6 ± 2.3 78.7 ± 3.1 CM18-L1-PTD4 48.5 ± 3.0 50.1 ± 3.8 CM18-L2-PTD4 45.5 ± 6.5 64.0 ± 1.3 CM18-L3-PTD4 39.0 ± 2.7 71.9 ± 6.0 His-ELD-CPD His-CM18-PTD4 20 5 60.3 ± 3.2 81.6 ± 4.5 His-CM18-PTD4-6Cys  41.3 ± 4.28   62 ± 5.76 Met-His-CM18-PTD4-Cys  45.6 ± 3.88  54.9 ± 3.45 3His-CM18-PTD4 39.4 ± 0.5 39.2 ± 3.3 12His-CM18-PTD4 36.9 ± 4.3 33.4 ± 4.3 HA-CM18-PTD4 42.3 ± 4.2 68.3 ± 4.1 3HA-CM18-PTD4 37.2 ± 3.9 43.6 ± 2.8 ELD-His-CPD CM18-His-PTD4 20 5 61.7 ± 1.8 57.7 ± 4.2 His-ELD-CPD-His His-CM18-PTD4-His 20 5 68.0 ± 6.0 78.6 ± 1.1

These results show that variations in a given shuttle (e.g., CM18-PTD4) may be used to modulate the degree of transduction efficiency and cell viability of the given shuttle. More particularly, the addition of an N-terminal cysteine residue to CM18-PTD4 (see Cys-CM18-PTD4), decreased GFP-NLS transduction efficiency by 11% (from 47.6% to 36.6%), but increased cell viability from 33.9% to 78.7%. Introduction of flexible linker domains (L1, L2, and L3) of different lengths between the CM18 and PTD4 domains did not result in a dramatic loss of transduction efficiency, but increased cell viability (see CM18-L1-PTD4, CM18-L2-PTD4, and CM18-L3-PTD4). Finally, variations to the amino acid sequences and/or positions of the histidine-rich domain(s) did not result in a complete loss of transduction efficiency and cell viability of His-CM18-PTD4 (see 3His-CM18-PTD4, 12His-CM18-PTD4, HA-CM18-PTD4, 3HA-CM18-PTD4, CM18-His-PTD4, and His-CM18-PTD4-His). Of note, adding a second histidine-rich domain at the C terminus of His-CM18-PTD4 (i.e., His-CM18-PTD4-His) increased transduction efficiency from 60% to 68% with similar cell viability.

10.5 Lack of GFP-NLS Transduction by Single-Domain Peptides or a his-CPD Peptide in HeLa Cells: Flow Cytometry

HeLa cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assays using Protocol B as described in Example 9.1. Briefly, GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM; see Example 5.1) was co-incubated with 50 μM of different single-domain peptides (TAT; PTD4; Penetratin; CM18; C(LLKK)₃C; KALA) or the two-domain peptide His-PTD4 (lacking an ELD), and exposed to the HeLa cells for 10 seconds. After the final washing step, the cells were subjected to flow cytometry analysis as described in Example 3.3. Results are shown in Table 10.4 and FIG. 29D. “Pos cells (%)” is the mean percentages of all cells that emanate a GFP signal. The negative control (“Ctrl”) corresponds to cells that were incubated with GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM) without any single-domain peptide or shuttle agent.

TABLE 10.4 Data from FIG. 29D Conc. of Conc. of Mean % cells with Single-domain shuttle GFP-NLS GFP signal Cell viability (%) Protocol Domain peptide Cells (μM) (μM) (±St. Dev.; n = 3) (±St. Dev.; n = 3) B — No peptide (“Ctrl”) HeLa 0 5 0.1 ± 0.02 98.3 ± 0.59  CPD TAT HeLa 50 5 1.1 ± 0.27 94.6 ± 0.44  PTD4 1.1 ± 0.06 94 ± 4.5 Penetratin (Pen) 3.6 ± 0.1  96 ± 0.6 ELD CM18 HeLa 50 5 2.9 ± 0.2  95 ± 1.2 C(LLKK)₃C 1.1 ± 0.57 61.8 ± 0.1  KALA 1.4 ± 0.13 84 ± 0.7 His-CPD His-PTD4 HeLa 50 5 1.04 ± 0.12  96.5 ± 0.28 

These results show that the single-domain peptides TAT, PTD4, Penetratin, CM18, C(LLKK)₃C, KALA, or the two-domain peptide His-PTD4 (lacking an ELD), are not able to successfully transduce GFP-NLS in HeLa cells.

10.6 GFP-NLS Transduction by TAT-KALA, his-CM18-PTD4, his-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4, PTD4-KALA, EB1-PTD4, and his-CM18-PTD4-his in HeLa Cells: Visualization by Microscopy

GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM; see Example 5.1) was co-incubated with 50 μM of shuttle agent, and then exposed to HeLa cells for 10 seconds using Protocol B as described in Example 9.1. The cells were visualized by microscopy as described in Example 3.2, after an incubation time of 2 minutes.

For the sample results shown in FIGS. 30A-30F, GFP fluorescence of the HeLa cells was immediately visualized by bright field (bottom row panels in FIGS. 30A-30F) and fluorescence (upper and middle row panels in FIGS. 30A-30F) microscopy at 20× or 40× magnifications after the final washing step. The results with the shuttle agents TAT-KALA, His-CM18-PTD4, and His-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4 are shown in FIGS. 30A, 30B and 30C, respectively. The results with the shuttle agents PTD4-KALA, EB1-PTD4, and His-CM18-PTD4-His are shown in FIGS. 30D, 30E and 30F, respectively. The insets in the bottom row panels in FIGS. 30A-30F show the results of corresponding FACS analyses (performed as described in Example 3.3), which indicates the percentage of cells in a 96-plate well with a GFP signal. No significant cellular GFP fluorescence was observed in negative control samples (i.e., cells exposed to GFP-NLS without any shuttle agent; data not shown).

10.7 GFP-NLS Transduction by TAT-KALA, his-CM18-PTD4 and his-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4 with Varying Incubation Times in THP-1 Cells: Flow Cytometry

THP-1 cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assays using Protocol C as described in Example 9.1. Briefly, GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM; see Example 5.1) was co-incubated with 1 μM of TAT-KALA, His-CM18-PTD4, or His-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4 for 15, 30, 60, or 120 seconds. After the final washing step, the cells were subjected to flow cytometry analysis as described in Example 3.3. The mean percentages of cells emanating a GFP signal (“Pos cells (%)”) are shown in Table 10.4 and in FIG. 34A. The mean fluorescence intensity is shown in Table 10.5 and FIG. 34B. The negative control (“Ctrl”) corresponds to cells that were incubated with GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM) without any shuttle agent.

TABLE 10.4 Data from FIG. 34A Conc. of Conc. of Incubation Mean % cells with shuttle GFP-NLS time GFP signal Cell viability (%) Protocol Shuttle agent Cells (μM) (μM) (sec.) (±St. Dev.; n = 3) (±St. Dev.; n = 3) C No shuttle (“Ctrl”) THP-1 0 5 120  1.12 ± 0.27  97.3 ± 1.55 TAT-KALA THP-1 1 5 15  47 ± 3.5 84.6 ± 2.7 30 52.9 ± 1.3 70.3 ± 3.2 60 70.1 ± 2.0 82.7 ± 1.4 120 82.1 ± 2.5 46.3 ± 4.9 His-CM18-PTD4 THP-1 1 5 15 23.7 ± 0.2  90 ± 3.0 30  53 ± 0.3  89 ± 1.1 60 69.6 ± 4.2 85.3 ± 3.6 120  89 ± 0.8 74.3 ± 3.2 His-C(LLKK)₃C- THP-1 1 5 15 38.4 ± 0.3 85.2 ± 2.8 PTD4 30 42.3 ± 4.2  86 ± 2.0 60 64.5 ±1.0  86.9 ± 3.8 120 78.7 ± 0.3 79.6 ± 2.8

TABLE 10.5 Data from FIG. 34B Relative Conc. of Incubation fluorescence shuttle time intensity (FL1-A) Standard Protocol Shuttle agent Cells (μM) (sec.) (n = 3) Deviation C No shuttle (“Ctrl”) THP-1 0 120 217  23.09 TAT-KALA THP-1 1 15  6 455.12 333.48 30  8 106.81 436.28 60 13 286.2  463.96 120 27 464.92 2 366.48  His-CM18-PTD4 THP-1 1 15  5 605.45 933.16 30 25 076.41 5 567.33  60 34 046.94 3 669.19  120 55 613.48 9 836.84  His-C(LLKK)₃C- THP-1 1 15  5 475.12 693.29 PTD4 30 5 755.8 635.18 60  8 267.38 733.29 120 21 165.06 209.37

Example 11 Repeated Daily Treatments with Low Concentrations of Shuttle Agent in the Presence of Serum Results in GFP-NLS Transduction in THP-1 Cells

11.1 GFP-NLS Transduction with his-CM18-PTD4 or his-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4 in THP-1 Cells: Flow Cytometry

THP-1 cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assay using Protocol A as described in Example 9.1, but with the following modifications. GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5, 2.5, or 1 μM; see Example 5.1) was co-incubated with 0.5 or 0.8 μM of His-CM18-PTD4, or with 0.8 μM of His-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4, and then exposed to THP-1 cells each day for 150 min in the presence of cell culture medium containing serum. Cells were washed and subjected to flow cytometry analysis as described in Example 3.3 after 1 or 3 days of repeated exposure to the shuttle agent/cargo. The results are shown in Table 11.1 and in FIGS. 35A, 35B, 35C and 35F. The negative control (“Ctrl”) corresponds to cells that were incubated with GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM) without any shuttle agent.

TABLE 11.1 Data from FIGS. 35A, 35B, 35C and 35F Conc. of Conc. of Exposure to Mean % cells with shuttle GFP-NLS shuttle/cargo GFP signal Cell viability (%) FIG. Shuttle agent Cells (μM) (μM) (days) (±St. Dev.; n = 3) (±St. Dev.; n = 3) 35A No shuttle (Ctrl) THP-1 0 5 0 0.15 ± 0.04 98.7 ± 0.1 His-CM18-PTD4 0.5 5 1 12.1 ± 1.5  98.2 ± 2.4 3 73.4 ± 1.1  84.3 ± 3.8 35B No shuttle (Ctrl) THP-1 0 5 0 0.36 ± 0.09 97.1 ± 1.2 His-CM18-PTD4 0.8 2.5 1 12.2 ± 0.9  92.3 ± 1.9 3 62.4 ± 3.5  68.5 ± 2.2 35C No shuttle (Ctrl) THP-1 0 5 0 0.28 ± 0.05 96.4 ± 2.0 His-CM18-PTD4 0.8 1 1 1.6 ± 0.2 98.4 ± 6.4 3 6.5 ± 0.9 80.6 ± 4.6 35F No shuttle (Ctrl) THP-1 0 5 0 0.62 ± 0.11 96.3 ± 1.4 His-C(LLKK)₃C- 0.8 1 1 1.8 ± 0.2 97.2 ± 2.2 PTD4 3 6.6 ± 0.8 76.6 ± 3.4

The viability of THP-1 cells repeatedly exposed to His-CM18-PTD4 and GFP-NLS was determined as described in Example 3.3a. The results are shown in Tables 11.2 and 11.3 and in FIGS. 35D and 35E. The results in Table 11.2 and FIG. 35D show the metabolic activity index of the THP-1 cells after 1, 2, 4, and 24 h, and the results in Table 11.3 and FIG. 35E show the metabolic activity index of the THP-1 cells after 1 to 4 days.

TABLE 11.2 Data from FIG. 35D Conc. of Conc. of Mean metabolic activity index shuttle GFP-NLS (±St. Dev.; n = 3) (Exposure to shuttle/cargo) Shuttle agent Cells (μM) (μM) 1 h 2 h 4 h 24 h No shuttle (Ctrl) THP-1 0 5 40810 ± 757.39 38223 ± 238.66 44058 ± 320.23 42362 ± 333.80 His-CM18-PTD4 THP-1 0.5 5  9974 ± 1749.85  9707 ± 1259.82  3619 ± 2247.54  2559 ± 528.50 1 5 42915 ± 259.67 41386 ± 670.66 44806 ± 824.71 43112 ± 634.56

TABLE 11.3 Data from FIG. 35E Conc. of Conc. of Mean metabolic activity index shuttle GFP-NLS (±St. Dev.; n = 3) (Exposure to shuttle/cargo) Shuttle agent Cells (μM) (μM) 1 day 2 days 3 days 4 days No shuttle (Ctrl) THP-1 0 5 44684 ± 283.27 43389 ± 642.47 45312 ± 963.40 43697 ± 1233  His-CM18-PTD4 THP-1 0.5 5 44665 ± 310.3  42664 ± 398.46  43927 ± 3511.54  43919 ± 4452.25 0.8 5 44531 ± 176.66 43667 ± 421.66 44586 ± 383.68 44122 ± 239.98 1 5 41386 ± 670.66 36422 ± 495.01 27965 ± 165.33 22564 ± 931.28

The results in Example 11 show that repeated daily (or chronic) treatments with relatively low concentrations of His-CM18-PTD4 or His-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4 in the presence of serum result in intracellular delivery of GFP-NLS in THP-1 cells. The results also suggest that the dosages of the shuttle agents and the cargo can be independently adjusted to improve cargo transduction efficiency and/or cell viability.

Example 12 His-CM18-PTD4 Increases Transduction Efficiency and Nuclear Delivery of GFP-NLS in a Plurality of Cell Lines

12.1 GFP-NLS Transduction with his-CM18-PTD4 in Different Adherent & Suspension Cells: Flow Cytometry

The ability of the shuttle agent His-CM18-PTD4 to deliver GFP-NLS to the nuclei of different adherent and suspension cells using Protocols B (adherent cells) or C (suspension cells) as described in Example 9.1 was examined. The cell lines tested included: HeLa, Balb3T3, HEK 293T, CHO, NIH3T3, Myoblasts, Jurkat, THP-1, CA46, and HT2 cells, which were cultured as described in Example 1. GFP-NLS (5 μM; see Example 5.1) was co-incubated with 35 μM of His-CM18-PTD4 and exposed to adherent cells for 10 seconds (Protocol B), or was co-incubated with 5 μM of His-CM18-PTD4 and exposed to suspension cells for 15 seconds (Protocol C). Cells were washed and subjected to flow cytometry analysis as described in Example 3.3. Results are shown in Table 12.1 and FIG. 36. “Pos cells (%)” is the mean percentages of all cells that emanate a GFP signal.

TABLE 12.1 Data from FIG. 36 Conc. of Conc. of Mean % cells with shuttle GFP-NLS GFP signal Cell viability (%) Shuttle agent Protocol (μM) (μM) Cells (±St. Dev.; n = 3) (±St. Dev.; n = 3) His-CM18-PTD4 B 35 5 HeLa 72.3 ± 5.3 94.6 ± 0.4 Balb3T3 40.2 ± 3.1 98.4 ± 0.6 HEK 293T 55.3 ± 0.2 95.3 ± 1.2 CHO 53.7 ± 4.6 92.8 ± 0.1 NIH3T3 35.4 ± 3.9  3.3 ± 5.4 Myoblasts 25.6 ± 2.6 23.5 ± 1.1 C 5 5 Jurkat 30.7 ± 2.2 73.6 ± 0.7 THP-1 64.1 ± 1.6 64.1 ± 4.5 CA46 24.4 ± 0.6 71.6 ± 1.0 HT2 30.5 ± 2.5 90.6 ± 1.5 12.2 GFP-NLS Transduction with his-CM18-PTD4 in Several Adherent and Suspension Cells: Visualization by Microscopy

GFP-NLS recombinant protein (5 μM; see Example 5.1) was co-incubated with 35 μM of His-CM18-PTD4 and exposed to adherent cells for 10 seconds using Protocol A, or was co-incubated with 5 μM of His-CM18-PTD4 and exposed to suspension cells for 15 seconds using Protocol B, as described in Example 9.1. After washing the cells, GFP fluorescence was visualized by bright field and fluorescence microscopy. Sample images captured at 10× magnifications showing GFP fluorescence are shown in FIGS. 37A-37H for (FIG. 37A) 293T, (FIG. 37B) Balb3T3, (FIG. 37C) CHO, (FIG. 37D) Myoblasts, (FIG. 37E) Jurkat, (FIG. 37F) CA46, (FIG. 37G) HT2, and (FIG. 37H) NIH3T3 cells. The insets show corresponding flow cytometry results performed as described in Example 3.3, indicating the percentage of GFP-NLS-positive cells. No significant cellular GFP fluorescence was observed in negative control samples (i.e., cells exposed to GFP-NLS without any shuttle agent; data not shown).

Nuclear localization of the GFP-NLS was further confirmed in fixed and permeabilized myoblasts using cell immuno-labelling as described in Example 3.2a. GFP-NLS was labeled using a primary mouse monoclonal anti-GFP antibody (Feldan, #A017) and a secondary goat anti-mouse Alexa™-594 antibody (Abcam #150116). Nuclei were labelled with DAPI. Sample results for primary human myoblast cells are shown in FIGS. 38A-38B, in which GFP immuno-labelling is shown in FIG. 38A, and an overlay of the GFP immuno-labelling and DAPI labelling is shown in FIG. 38B. No significant cellular GFP labelling was observed in negative control samples (i.e., cells exposed to GFP-NLS without any shuttle agent; data not shown).

The microscopy results revealed that GFP-NLS is successfully delivered to the nucleus of all the tested cells using the shuttle agent His-CM18-PTD4.

Example 13 His-CM18-PTD4 Enables Transduction of a CRISPR/Cas9-NLS System and Genome Editing in Hela Cells

13.1 Cas9-NLS Recombinant Protein

Cas9-NLS recombinant protein was constructed, expressed and purified from a bacterial expression system as described in Example 1.4. The sequence of the Cas9-NLS recombinant protein produced was:

[SEQ ID NO: 74] MDKKYSIGLDIGINSVGWAVITDEYKVPSKKFKVLGNIDRHSIKKNLI GALLFDSGETAEATRLKRTARRRYTRRKNRICYLQEIFSNEMAKVDDS FFHRLEESFLVEEDKKHERHPIFGNIVDEVAYHEKYPTIYHLRKKLVD STDKADLRLIYLALAHMIKFRGHFLIEGDLNPDNSDVDKLFIQLVQTY NQLFEENPINASGVDAKAILSARLSKSRRLENLIAQLPGEKKNGLFGN LIALSLGLIPNFKSNFDLAEDAKLQLSKDTYDDDLDNLLAQIGDQYAD LFLAAKNLSDAILLSDILRVNTEITKAPLSASMIKRYDEHHQDLILLK ALVRQQLPEKYKEIFFDQSKNGYAGYIDGGASQEEFYKFIKPILEKMD GTEELLVKLNREDLLRKQRTFDNGSIPHQIHLGELHAILRRQEDFYPF LKDNREKIEKILTFRIPYYVGPLARGNSRFAWMTRKSEETITPWNFEE VVDKGASAQSFIERMINFDKNLPNEKVLPKHSLLYEYFTVYNELTKVK YVTEGMRKPAFLSGEQKKAIVDLLFKINRKVIVKQLKEDYFKKIECFD SVEISGVEDRFNASLGTYHDLLKIIKDKDFLDNEENEDILEDIVLILT LFEDREMIEERLKTYAHLFDDKVMKQLKRRRYTGWGRLSRKLINGIRD KQSGKTILDFLKSDGFANRNFMQLIHDDSLIFKEDIQKAQVSGQGDSL HEHIANLAGSPAIKKGILQTVKVVDELVKVMGRHKPENIVIEMARENQ TTQKGQKNSRERMKRIEEGIKELGSQILKEHPVENTQLQNEKLYLYYL QNGRDMYVDQELDINRLSDYDVDHIVPQSFLKDDSIDNKVLTRSDKNR GKSDNVPSEEVVKKMKNYWRQLLNAKLITQRKFDNLIKAERGGLSELD KAGFIKRQLVETRQIIKHVAQILDSRMNIKYDENDKLIREVKVITLKS KLVSDFRKDFQFYKVREINNYHHAHDAYLNAVVGIALIKKYPKLESEF VYGDYKVYDVRKMIAKSEQEIGKATAKYFFYSNIMNFFKTEITLANGE IRKRPLIETNGETGEIVWDKGRDFATVRKVLSMPQVNIVKKTEVQTGG ESKESILPKRNSDKLIARKKDWDPKKYGGFDSPIVAYSVLVVAKVEKG KSKKLKSVKELLGITIMERSSFEKNPIDFLEAKGYKEVKKDLIIKLPK YSLFELENGRKRMLASAGELQKGNELALPSKYVNFLYLASHYEKLKGS PEDNEQKQLFVEQHKHYLDEIIEQISEFSKRVILADANLDKVLSAYNK HRDKPIREQAENIIHLFTLINLGAPAAFKYFDTTIDRKRYISTKEVLD ATLIHQSITGLYETRIDLSQLGGDGGRSSDDEATADSQHAAPPKKKRK V GGSGGGSGGGSGGGRHHHHHH (MW = 162.9 kDa; pI = 9.05) NLS sequence is underlined Serine/glycine rich linkers are in bold 13.2 Transfection Plasmid Surrogate Assay

This assay enables one to visually identify cells that have been successfully delivered an active

CRISPR/Cas9 complex. As shown in FIG. 39A, the assay involves transfecting cells with an expression plasmid DNA encoding the fluorescent proteins mCherry™ and GFP, with a STOP codon separating their two open reading frames. Transfection of the cells with the expression plasmid results in mCherry™ expression, but no GFP expression (FIG. 39B). A CRISPR/Cas9 complex, which has been designed/programmed to cleave the plasmid DNA at the STOP codon, is then delivered intracellularly to the transfected cells expressing mCherry™ (FIG. 39D). Successful transduction of an active CRISPR/Cas9 complex results in the CRISPR/Cas9 complex cleaving the plasmid DNA at the STOP codon (FIG. 39C). In a fraction of the cells, random non-homologous DNA repair of the cleaved plasmid occurs and results in removal of the STOP codon, and thus GFP expression and fluorescence (FIG. 39E).

On Day 1 of the transfection plasmid surrogate assay, DNA plasmids for different experimental conditions (250 ng) are diluted in DMEM (50 μL) in separate sterile 1.5-mL tubes, vortexed and briefly centrifuged. In separate sterile 1.5-mL tubes, Fastfect™ transfection reagent was diluted in DMEM (50 μL) with no serum and no antibiotics at a ratio of 3:1 (3 μL of Fastfect™ transfection reagent for 1 μg of DNA) and then quickly vortexed and briefly centrifuged. The Fastfect™/DMEM mixture was then added to the DNA mix and quickly vortexed and briefly centrifuged. The Fastfect™/DMEM/DNA mixture is then incubated for 15-20 min at room temperature, before being added to the cells (100 μL per well). The cells are then incubated at 37° C. and 5% CO₂ for 5 h. The media is then changed for complete medium (with serum) and further incubated at 37° C. and 5% CO₂ for 24-48 h. The cells are then visualized under fluorescent microscopy to view the mCherry™ signal.

13.3 his-CM18-PTD4-Mediated CRISPR/Cas9-NLS System Delivery and Cleavage of Plasmid DNA

RNAs (crRNA & tracrRNA) were designed to target a nucleotide sequence of the EMX1 gene, containing a STOP codon between the mCherry™ and GFP coding sequences in the plasmid of Example 13.2. The sequences of the crRNA and tracrRNA used were as follows:

crRNA [SEQ ID NO: 75]: 5′-GAGUCCGAGCAGAAGAAGAAGUUUUAGAGCUAUGCUGUUUUG-3′ tracrRNA [SEQ ID NO: 76]: 5′-AAACAGCAUAGCAAGUUAAAAUAAGGCUAGUCCGUUAUCAACUUG AAAAAGUGGCACCGAGUCGGUGCU-3′

HeLa cells were cultured and subjected to the transfection plasmid surrogate assay as described in Example 13.2). On Day 1, the HeLa cells were transfected with a plasmid surrogate encoding the mCherry™ protein as shown in FIG. 39A. On Day 2, a mix of Cas9-NLS recombinant protein (2 μM; see Example 13.1) and RNAs (crRNA & tracrRNA; 2 μM; see above) were co-incubated with 50 μM of His-CM18-PTD4, and the mixture (CRISPR/Cas9 complex) was exposed to HeLa cells for 10 seconds using Protocol B as described in Example 9.1. Double-stranded plasmid DNA cleavage by the CRISPR/Cas9 complex at the STOP codon between the mCherry™ and GFP coding sequences (FIG. 39B), and subsequent non-homologous repair by the cell in some cases results in removal of the STOP codon (FIG. 39C), thereby allowing expression of both the mCherry™ and GFP fluorescent proteins in the same cell on Day 3 (FIG. 39D-39E). White triangle windows in FIGS. 39D and 39E indicate examples of areas of co-labelling between mCherry™ and GFP.

As a positive control for the CRISPR/Cas9-NLS system, HeLa cells were cultured and co-transfected with three plasmids: the plasmid surrogate (as described in Example 13.2) and other expression plasmids encoding the Cas9-NLS protein (Example 13.1) and the crRNA/tracrRNAs (Example 13.3). Typical fluorescence microscopy results are shown in FIG. 40A to 40D. FIGS. 40A and 40B show cells 24 hours post-transfection, while FIGS. 40C and 40D show cells 72 hours post-transfection.

FIG. 40E-40H shows the results of a parallel transfection plasmid surrogate assay performed using 35 μM of the shuttle His-CM18-PTD4, as described for FIG. 39A-39E. FIGS. 40E and 40F show cells 24 hours post-transduction, while FIGS. 40G and 40H show cells 48 hours post-transduction. FIGS. 40E and 40G show mCherry™ fluorescence, and FIGS. 40F and 40H show GFP fluorescence, the latter resulting from removal of the STOP codon by the transduced CRISPR/Cas9-NLS complex and subsequent non-homologous repair by the cell. No significant cellular GFP fluorescence was observed in negative control samples (i.e., cells exposed to CRISPR/Cas9-NLS complex without any shuttle agent; data not shown).

13.4 T7E1 Assay

The T7E1 assay was performed with the Edit-R™ Synthetic crRNA Positive Controls (Dharmacon #U-007000-05) and the T7 Endonuclease I (NEB, Cat #M0302S). After the delivery of the CRISPR/Cas9 complex, cells were lysed in 100 μL of Phusion™ High-Fidelity DNA polymerase (NEB #M0530S) laboratory with additives. The cells were incubated for 15-30 minutes at 56° C., followed by deactivation for 5 minutes at 96° C. The plate was briefly centrifuged to collect the liquid at bottom of the wells. 50-μL PCR samples were set up for each sample to be analyzed. The PCR samples were heated to 95° C. for 10 minutes and then slowly (>15 minutes) cooled to room temperature. PCR product (˜5 μL) was then separated on an agarose gel (2%) to confirm amplification. 15 μL of each reaction was incubated with T7E1 nuclease for 25 minutes at 37° C. Immediately, the entire reaction volume was run with the appropriate gel loading buffer on an agarose gel (2%).

13.5 his-CM18-PTD4 and his-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4-Mediated CRISPR/Cas9-NLS System Delivery and Cleavage of Genomic PPIB Sequence

A mix composed of a Cas9-NLS recombinant protein (25 nM; Example 13.1) and crRNA/tracrRNA (50 nM; see below) targeting a nucleotide sequence of the PPIB gene were co-incubated with 10 μM of His-CM18-PTD4 or His-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4, and incubated with HeLa cells for 16 h in medium without serum using Protocol A as described in Example 9.1.

The sequences of the crRNA and tracrRNAs constructed and their targets were:

Feldan tracrRNA [SEQ ID NO: 77]: 5′-AAACAGCAUAGCAAGUUAAAAUAAGGCUAGUCCGUUAUCAACUUG AAAAAGUGGCACCGAGUCGGUGCU-3′ PPIB crRNA [SEQ ID NO: 78]: 5′-GUGUAUUUUGACCUACGAAUGUUUUAGAGCUAUGCUGUUUUG-3′ Dharmacon tracrRNA [SEQ ID NO: 79]: 5′-AACAGCAUAGCAAGUUAAAAUAAGGCUAGUCCGUUAUCAACUUGA AAAAGUGGCACCGAGUCGGUGCUUUUUUU-3′

After 16 h, HeLa cells were washed with PBS and incubated in medium with serum for 48 h. HeLa cells were harvested to proceed with the T7E1 protocol assay as described in Example 13.4.

FIG. 41A shows an agarose gel with the PPIB DNA sequences after PCR amplification. Lane A shows the amplified PPIB DNA sequence in HeLa cells without any treatment (i.e., no shuttle or Cas9/RNAs complex). Lanes B: The two bands framed in white box #1 are the cleavage product of the PPIB DNA sequence by the CRIPR/Cas9 complex after the delivery of the complex with the shuttle His-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4. Lane C: These bands show the amplified PPIB DNA sequence after incubation of the HeLa cells with the Cas9/RNAs complex without shuttle (negative control). Lane D: The bands framed in white box #2 show the amplified PPIB DNA sequence after incubation of the HeLa cells with the Cas9/RNAs complex in presence of a lipidic transfection agent (DharmaFectIm tranfection reagent # T-20XX-01) (positive control). Similar results were obtained using the shuttle His-CM18-PTD4 (data not shown).

FIG. 41B shows an agarose gel with the PPIB DNA sequences after PCR amplification. The left panel in FIG. 41B shows the cleavage product of the amplified PPIB DNA sequence by the CRIPR/Cas9 complex after the delivery of the complex with the shuttle agent His-CM18-PTD4 in HeLa cells. The right panel FIG. 41B shows amplified DNA sequence before the T7E1 digestion procedure as a negative control.

FIG. 41C shows an agarose gel with the PPIB DNA sequences after PCR amplification. The left panel FIG. 41C shows the amplified PPIB DNA sequence after incubation of the HeLa cells with the Cas9/RNAs complex in presence of a lipidic transfection agent (DharmaFect™ transfection reagent # T-20XX-01) (positive control). The right panel FIG. 41C shows amplified DNA sequence before the T7E1 digestion procedure as a negative control.

These results show that the shuttle agents His-CM18-PTD4 and His-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4 successfully deliver a functional CRISPR/Cas9 complex to the nucleus of HeLa cells, and that this delivery results in CRISPR/Cas9-mediated cleavage of genomic DNA.

13.6 CRISPR/Cas9-NLS System Delivery by Different Shuttle Agents, and Cleavage of Genomic HPTR Sequence in HeLa and Jurkat Cells

A mix composed of a Cas9-NLS recombinant protein (2.5 μM; Example 13.1) and crRNA/tracrRNA (2 μM; see below) targeting a nucleotide sequence of the HPTR gene were co-incubated with 35 μM of His-CM18-PTD4, His-CM18-PTD4-His, His-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4, or EB1-PTD4, and incubated with HeLa or Jurkat cells for 2 minutes in PBS using Protocol B as described in Example 9.1.

The sequences of the crRNA and tracrRNAs constructed and their targets were:

Feldan tracrRNA [SEQ ID NO: 77]: 5′-AAACAGCAUAGCAAGUUAAAAUAAGGCUAGUCCGUUAUCAACUUG AAAAAGUGGCACCGAGUCGGUGCU-3′ HPRT crRNA [SEQ ID NO: 103]: 5′-AAUUAUGGGGAUUACUAGGAGUUUUAGAGCUAUGCU-3′

After 2 minutes, cells were washed with PBS and incubated in medium with serum for 48 h. Cells were harvested to proceed with the T7E1 protocol assay as described in Example 13.4. FIGS. 46A-46B shows an agarose gel with the HPTR DNA sequences after PCR amplification and the cleavage product of the amplified HPTR DNA sequence by the CRISPR/Cas9 complex after the delivery of the complex with the different shuttle agents. FIG. 46A shows the results with the shuttle agents: His-CM18-PTD4, His-CM18-PTD4-His, and His-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4 in HeLa cells. FIG. 46B shows the results with His-CM18-PTD4 and His-CM18-L2-PTD4 in Jurkat cells. Negative controls (lanes 4) show amplified HPTR DNA sequence after incubation of the cells with the CRISPR/Cas9 complex without the presence of the shuttle agent. Positive controls (lane 5 in FIGS. 46A and 46B) show the amplified HPTR DNA sequence after incubation of the cells with the Cas9/RNAs complex in presence of a lipidic transfection agent (Lipofectamine® RNAiMAX™ Transfection Reagent ThermoFisher Product No. 13778100).

These results show that different polypeptide shuttle agents of the present description may successfully deliver a functional CRISPR/Cas9 complex to the nucleus of HeLa and Jurkat cells, and that this delivery results in CRISPR/Cas9-mediated cleavage of genomic DNA.

Example 14 His-CM18-PTD4 Enables Transduction of the Transcription Factor HOXB4 in THP-1 Cells

14.1 HOXB4-WT Recombinant Protein

Human HOXB4 recombinant protein was constructed, expressed and purified from a bacterial expression system as described in Example 1.4. The sequence of the HOXB4-WT recombinant protein produced was:

[SEQ ID NO: 80] MHHHHHHMAMSSFLINSNYVDPKFPPCEEYSQSDYLPSDHSPGYYAGG QRRESSFQPEAGFGRRAACTVQRYPPPPPPPPPPGLSPRAPAPPPAGA LLPEPGQRCEAVSSSPPPPPCAQNPLHPSPSHSACKEPVVYPWMRKVH VSTVNPNYAGGEPKRSRTAYTRQQVLELEKEFHYNRYLTRRRRVEIAH ALCLSERQIKIWFQNRRMKWKKDHKLPNTKIRSGGAAGSAGGPPGRPN GGPRAL (MW = 28.54 kDa; pI = 9.89) The initiator methionine and the 6x Histidine tag are shown in bold. 14.2 Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (Rt-PCR)

Control and treated cells are transferred to separate sterile 1.5-mL tubes and centrifuged for 5 minutes at 300 g. The cell pellets are resuspended in appropriate buffer to lyse the cells. RNAase-free 70% ethanol is then added followed by mixing by pipetting. The lysates are transferred to an RNeasy™ Mini spin column and centrifuged 30 seconds at 13000 RPM. After several washes with appropriate buffers and centrifugation steps, the eluates are collected in sterile 1.5-mL tubes on ice, and the RNA quantity in each tube is then quantified with a spectrophotometer. For DNase treatment, 2 μg of RNA is diluted in 15 μL of RNase-free water. 1.75 μL of 10×DNase buffer and 0.75 μL of DNase is then added, followed by incubation at 37° C. for 15 minutes. For reverse transcriptase treatment, 0.88 μL of EDTA (50 nM) is added, followed by incubation at 75° C. for 5 minutes. In a PCR tube, 0.5 μg of DNase-treated RNA is mixed with 4 μL of iScript™ Reverse transcription Supermix (5×) and 20 μL of nuclease-free water. The mix is incubated in a PCR machine with the following program: 5 min at 25° C., 30 min at 42° C. and 5 min at 85° C. Newly synthesized cDNA is transferred in sterile 1.5-mL tubes and diluted in 2 μL of nuclease-free water. 18 μL per well of a qPCR machine (CFX96™) mix is then added in a PCR plate for analysis.

14.3 HOXB4-WT Transduction by his-CM18-PTD4 in THP-1 Cells: Dose Responses and Viability

THP-1 cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assay using Protocol A as described in Example 9.1. Briefly, THP-1 cells were plated at 30 000 cells/well one day before transduction. HOXB4-WT recombinant protein (0.3, 0.9, or 1.5 μM; Example 14.1) was co-incubated with different concentrations of His-CM18-PTD4 (0, 0.5, 7.5, 0.8 or 1 μM) and then exposed to THP-1 cells for 2.5 hours in the presence of serum. The cells were subjected to real time-PCR analysis as described in Example 14.2 to measure the mRNA levels of a target gene as a marker for HOXB4 activity, which was then normalized to the target gene mRNA levels detected in the negative control cells (no treatment), to obtain a “Fold over control” value. Total RNA levels (ng/μL) were also measured as a marker for cell viability. Results are shown in Table 14.1 and FIG. 42.

TABLE 14.1 Data from FIG. 42 Fold over Total RNA Conc. of Conc. of control in ng/μL Cargo/shuttle agent shuttle HOXB4-WT (mean ± (mean ± (FIG. 41) Cells (μM) (μM) St. Dev) St. Dev) No treatment THP-1 0 0  1 ± 0.1 263 ± 0.4 (“Ø”) HOXB4-WT alone THP-1 0 1.5 4.3 ± 0.1 271 ± 6.0 (“TF”) His-CM18-PTD4 THP-1 1 0 2.7 ± 0.3  252 ± 10.7 alone (“FS”) His-CM18-PTD4 + THP-1 0.5 0.3 2.7 ± 0.6 255 ± 3.9 HOXB4-WT 0.9 4.3 ± 2.1  239 ± 17.5 1.5 3.8 ± 0.7 269 ± 6.4 His-CM18-PTD4 + THP-1 0.75 0.3 4.2 ± 1.2 248 ± 28  HOXB4-WT 0.9 5.7 ± 2.5 245 ± 31  1.5 7.5 ± 2.8 230 ± 3.3 His-CM18-PTD4 + THP-1 0.8 0.3 9.1 ± 2.7 274 ± 4.4 HOXB4-WT 0.9 16.4 ± 1.7   272 ± 12.5 1.5 22.7 ± 3.2  282 ± 4.7 His-CM18-PTD4 + THP-1 0.9 0.3 10.2 ± 2.5   280 ± 11.3 HOXB4-WT 0.9 18.7 ± 3.1  281 ± 9.2 1.5 26.1 ± 3.5  253 ± 7.1 His-CM18-PTD4 + THP-1 1 0.3 10.5 ± 0.7   184 ± 12.3 HOXB4-WT 0.9  17 ± 3.7  168 ± 16.2 1.5 24.5 ± 3.9  154 ± 4.7

These results show that exposing THP-1 cells to a mixture of the shuttle agent His-CM18-PTD4 and the transcription factor HOXB4-WT for 2.5 hours in the presence of serum results in a dose-dependent increase in mRNA transcription of the target gene. These results suggest that HOXB4-WT is successfully delivered in an active form to the nucleus of THP-1 cells, where it can mediate transcriptional activation.

14.4 HOXB4-WT Transduction by his-CM18-PTD4 in THP-1 Cells: Time Course and Viability (0 to 48 Hours)

THP-1 cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assay using Protocol A as described in Example 9.1. Briefly, THP-1 cells were plated at 30 000 cells/well one day before the first time course experiment. HOXB4-WT recombinant protein (1.5 μM; Example 14.1) was co-incubated with His-CM18-PTD4 (0.8 μM) and then exposed to THP-1 cells for 0, 2.5, 4, 24 or 48 hours in presence of serum. The cells were subjected to real time-PCR analysis as described in Example 14.2 to measure mRNA levels of a target gene as a marker for HOXB4 activity, which was then normalized to the target gene mRNA levels detected in the negative control cells (no treatment), to obtain a “Fold over control” value. Total RNA levels (ng/μL) were also measured as a marker for cell viability. Results are shown in Table 14.2 and FIG. 43.

TABLE 14.2 Data from FIG. 43 Conc. of Conc. of Exposure Fold over Total RNA Cargo/shuttle agent shuttle HOXB4-WT time control in ng/μL (FIG. 43) Cells (μM) (μM) (hours) (mean ± St. Dev) (mean ± St. Dev) No treatment (“Ctrl”) THP-1 0 0 —  1 ± 0.1 180 ± 0.4  HOXB4-WT alone THP-1 0 1.5 2.5 h 3.4 ± 0.3 129 ± 10.7 (“TF”) His-CM18-PTD4 THP-1 0.8 0 2.5 h  1.2 ± 0.14 184 ± 6.0  alone (“FS”) His-CM18-PTD4 + THP-1 0.8 1.5  48 h 0.27 ± 0.1   58 ± 11.2 HOXB4-WT  24 h  0.8 ± 0.14 74 ± 9.2  4 h 5.6 ± 1.2 94 ± 7.1 2.5 h 9.1 ± 1.2 146 ± 11.6 0 3.9 ± 0.4 167 ± 13  14.5 HOXB4-WT Transduction by his-CM18-PTD4 in THP-1 Cells: Time Course and Viability (0 to 4 Hours)

THP-1 cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assay using Protocol A as described in Example 9.1. Briefly, THP-1 cells were plated at 30 000 cells/well one day before the first time course experiment. HOXB4-WT recombinant protein (0.3 μM; Example 14.1) was co-incubated with His-CM18-PTD4 (0.8 μM) and then exposed to THP-1 cells for 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 2.5, 3 or 4 hours in presence of serum. The cells were subjected to real time-PCR analysis as described in Example 14.2 to measure mRNA levels of a target gene as a marker for HOXB4 activity, which was then normalized to target gene mRNA levels detected in the negative control cells (no treatment), to obtain a “Fold over control” value. Total RNA levels (ng/μL) were also measured as a marker for cell viability. Results are shown in Table 14.3 and FIG. 44.

TABLE 14.3 Data from FIG. 44 Conc. of Conc. of Exposure Fold over Total RNA Cargo/shuttle agent shuttle HOXB4-WT time control in ng/μL (FIG. 42) Cells (μM) (μM) (hours) (mean ± St. Dev) (mean ± St. Dev) No treatment (“Ctrl”) THP-1 0 0 —  1 ± 0.1 289 ± 9.2 His-CM18-PTD4 THP-1 0 0.3 2.5 h 2.5 ± 0.2 260 ± 7.1 alone (“FS”) HOXB4-WT alone THP-1 0.8 0 2.5 h   1 ± 0.14  264 ± 12.3 (“TF”) His-CM18-PTD4 + THP-1 0.8 0.3 4 h 1.2 ± 0.1 198 ± 6.0 HOXB4-WT 3 h  1.3 ± 0.21  268 ± 12.5 2.5 h  2 ± 0.3 275 ± 4.7 2 h 2.2 ± 0.2  269 ± 12.5 1 9.7 ± 2.6 268 ± 3.9 0.5 23.1 ± 2.0   266 ± 17.5 0  4 ± 0.5 217 ± 6.4 14.6 HOXB4-WT Transduction by his-CM18-PTD4 in HeLa Cells: Immuno-Labelling and Visualization by Microscopy

Recombinant HOXB4-WT transcription factor (25 μM; Example 14.1) was co-incubated with 35 μM of His-CM18-PTD4 and exposed to HeLa cells for 10 seconds using Protocol B as described in Example 9.1. After a 30-minute incubation to allow transduced HOXB4-WT to accumulate in the nucleus, the cells were fixed, permeabilized and immuno-labelled as described in Example 3.2a. HOXB4-WT was labelled using a primary mouse anti-HOXB4 monoclonal antibody (Novus Bio #NBP2-37257) diluted 1/500, and a secondary anti-mouse antibody Alexa™-594 (Abcam #150116) diluted 1/1000. Nuclei were labelled with DAPI. The cells were visualized by bright field and fluorescence microscopy at 20× and 40× magnifications as described in Example 3.2, and sample results are shown in FIGS. 45A-45D. Co-localization was observed between nuclei labelling (FIGS. 45A and 45C) and HOXB4-WT labelling (FIGS. 45B and 45D), indicating that HOXB4-WT was successfully delivered to the nucleus after 30 min in the presence of the shuttle agent His-CM18-PTD4. White triangle windows show examples of areas of co-localization between the nuclei (DAPI) and HOXB4-WT immuno-labels.

14.7 HOXB4-WT Transduction by Different Shuttle Agents in THP-1 Cells: Dose Responses and Viability

THP-1 cells were cultured and tested in the protein transduction assay using Protocol A as described in Example 9.1. Briefly, THP-1 cells were plated at 30 000 cells/well one day before the first time course experiment. HOXB4-WT recombinant protein (1.5 μM; Example 14.1) co-incubated with the shuttle agents His-CM18-PTD4, TAT-KALA, EB1-PTD4, His-C(LLKK)₃C-PTD4 and His-CM18-PTD4-His at 0.8 μM, and then exposed to THP-1 cells for 2.5 hours in presence of serum. The cells were subjected to real time-PCR analysis as described in Example 14.2 to measure mRNA levels of a target gene as a marker for HOXB4 activity, which was then normalized to target gene mRNA levels detected in the negative control cells (no treatment), to obtain a “Fold over control” value. Total RNA levels (ng/μL) were also measured as a marker for cell viability. Results are shown in Table 14.4 and FIG. 47.

TABLE 14.4 Data from FIG. 47 Fold over Total RNA Shuttle HOXB4-WT control in ng/μL conc. Conc. Exposure (mean ± (mean ± Cargo/shuttle agent (μM) (μM) time St. Dev) St. Dev) No treatment 0 0 —   1 ± 0.09 240.3 ± 8.9  (“Ctrl”) His-CM18-PTD4 0 1.5 2.5 h 2.5 ± 0.3 303.9 ± 7.6  alone (“FS”) HOXB4-WT alone 0.8 0 2.5 h   1 ± 0.11 251.9 ± 11.9 (“TF”) His-CM18-PTD4 + 0.8 1.5 2.5 h 44.5 ± 0.09  182 ± 5.97 HOXB4-WT TAT-KALA +  5.1 ± 0.21 222.4 ± 12.5 HOXB4-WT EB1-PTD4 + 6.4 ± 0.3 240.4 ± 4.71 HOXB4-WT His-C(LLKK)3C-PTD4 +  9.8 ± 0.19  175.3 ± 11.25 HOXB4-WT His-CM18-PTD4-His + 28.1 ± 2.61  91.4 ± 3.92 HOXB4-WT

Example 15 In Vivo GFP-NLS Delivery in Rat Parietal Cortex by his-CM18-PTD4

The ability of the shuttle agent His-CM18-PTD4 to deliver GFP-NLS in vivo in the nuclei of rat brain cells was tested.

In separate sterile 1.5-mL tubes, shuttle agent His-CM18-PTD4 was diluted in sterile distilled water at room temperature. GFP-NLS, used as cargo protein, was then added to the shuttle agent and, if necessary, sterile PBS was added to obtain the desired concentrations of shuttle agent and cargo in a sufficient final volume for injection in rat brain (e.g., 5 μL per each injection brain site). The shuttle agent/cargo mixture was then immediately used for experiments. One negative control was included for the experiment, which corresponds to the injection of the GFP-NLS alone.

Bilateral injections were performed in the parietal cortex of three rats. In the left parietal cortex (ipsilateral), a mix composed of the shuttle agent (20 μM) and the GFP-NLS (20 μM) was injected, and in the right parietal cortex (contralateral), only the GFP-NLS (20 μM) was injected as a negative control. For surgical procedures, mice were anesthetized with isoflurane. Then the animal was placed in a stereotaxic frame, and the skull surface was exposed. Two holes were drilled at the appropriate sites to allow bilateral infusion of the shuttle/cargo mix or GFP-NLS alone (20 μM) with 5-μL Hamilton syringe. Antero-posterior (AP), lateral (L), and dorso-ventral (DV) coordinates were taken relative to the bregma: (a) AP +0.48 mm, L ±3 mm, V −5 mm; (b) AP −2 mm, L ±1.3 mm, V −1.5 mm; (c) AP −2.6 mm, L ±1.5 mm, V −1.5 mm. The infused volume of the shuttle/cargo mix or cargo alone was 5 μL per injection site and the injection was performed for 10 minutes. After that, experimenter waited 1 min before removing the needle from the brain. All measures were taken before, during, and after surgery to minimize animal pain and discomfort. Animals were sacrificed by perfusion with paraformaldehyde (4%) 2 h after surgery, and brain were collected and prepared for microcopy analysis. Experimental procedures were approved by the Animal Care Committee in line with guidelines from the Canadian Council on Animal Care.

Dorso-ventral rat brain slices were collected and analysed by fluorescence microscopy and results are shown in FIG. 48A-48D at (FIG. 48A) 4×, (FIG. 48C) 10× and (FIG. 48D) 20× magnifications. The injection site is located in the deepest layers of the parietal cortex (PCx). In the presence of the His-CM18-PTD4 shuttle, the GFP-NLS diffused in cell nuclei of the PCx, of the Corpus Callus (Cc) and of the striatum (Str) (White curves mean limitations between brains structures). FIG. 48B shows the stereotaxic coordinates of the injection site (black arrows) from the rat brain atlas of Franklin and Paxinos. The injection of GFP-NLS in presence of His-CM18-PTD4 was performed on the left part of the brain, and the negative control (an injection of GFP-NLS alone), was done on the contralateral site. The black circle and connected black lines in FIG. 48B show the areas observed in the fluorescent pictures (FIGS. 48A, 48C and 48D).

This experiment demonstrated the cell delivery of the cargo GFP-NLS after its stereotaxic injection in the rat parietal cortex in the presence of the shuttle agent His-CM18-PTD4. Results show the delivery of the GFP-NLS in the nucleus of cells from the deeper layers of the parietal cortex (injection site) to the corpus callus and the dorsal level of the striatum (putamen). In contrast, the negative control in which GFP-NLS is only detectable locally around the injection site. This experiment shows that shuttle agent induced nuclear delivery of the cargo in the injection site (parietal cortex) and its diffusion through both neighboring brain areas (corpus callus and striatum rat brain). 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for increasing the transduction efficiency and cytosolic delivery of an independent polypeptide cargo in a population of target eukaryotic cells, said method comprising contacting said target eukaryotic cells and-said independent polypeptide cargo and a concentration of a synthetic peptide sufficient to increase the percentage or proportion of the population of target eukaryotic cells into which the independent polypeptide is delivered across the plasma membrane, as compared to in the absence of said synthetic peptide, wherein said synthetic peptide: (a) comprises an endosome leakage domain (ELD), or a variant or fragment thereof having endosomolytic activity, operably linked to a cell penetrating domain (CPD), wherein said ELD comprises the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-15, 63, or 64; (b) is not covalently bound to said independent polypeptide cargo; (c) has an overall length of between 20 and 100 amino acid residues; (d) has a net charge of at least +6 at physiological pH; and (e) is soluble in aqueous solution at physiological pH, wherein said CPD enables delivery of said synthetic peptide across the plasma membrane, and said ELD enables escape of endosomally trapped independent polypeptide cargo to the cytosol of the target eukaryotic cells, thereby increasing the transduction efficiency and cytosolic delivery of the independent polypeptide cargo in the population of target eukaryotic cells.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said synthetic peptide has an overall length of between 20 and 70 amino acid residues.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said CPD comprises the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 16-27 or 65, or is a variant or fragment thereof having cell penetrating activity.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said synthetic peptide further comprises a histidine-rich domain consisting of a stretch of at least 6 amino acids comprising at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, or at least 90% histidine residues; and/or comprises at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, or at least 6 consecutive histidine residues.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said ELD variant or ELD fragment has at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, or at least 95% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-15, 63, or
 64. 6. The method of claim 3, wherein said CPD variant or CPD fragment has at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, or at least 95% sequence identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs: 16-27 or
 65. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the synthetic peptide comprises the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 57-59, 66-72, or 82-102, or a functional variant thereof having at least 70%, at least 85%, at least 90%, or at least 95% identity to any one of SEQ ID NOs: 57-59, 66-72, or 82-102.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein said independent polypeptide cargo is a transcription factor, a nuclease, a cytokine, a hormone, a growth factor, or an antibody.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein: (a) said transcription factor is: HOXB4, NUP98-HOXA9, Oct.3/4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc, MyoD, Pdx1, Ngn3, MafA, Blimp-1, Eomes, T-bet, FOXO3A, NF-YA, SALL4, ISL1, FoxA1, Nanog, Esrrb, Lin28, HIF1-alpha, Hlf, Runx1t1, Pbx1, Lmo2, Zfp37, Prdm5, or Bcl-6; or (b) said nuclease is an RNA-guided endonuclease, a CRISPR endonuclease, a type I CRISPR endonuclease, a type II CRISPR endonuclease, a type III CRISPR endonuclease, a type IV CRISPR endonuclease, a type V CRISPR endonuclease, a type VI CRISPR endonuclease, CRISPR endonuclease, CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9), Cpf 1, a zinc-finger nuclease (ZFNs), a Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), a homing endonuclease, or a meganuclease.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein said nuclease is Cas9 or Cpf1.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said nuclease further comprises a guide RNA, a crRNA, a tracrRNA, or both a crRNA and a tracrRNA.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein said independent polypeptide cargo comprises a nuclear localization signal or a further nuclear localization signal.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein said cell is stem cell, a primary cell, an immune cell, a T cell, or a dendritic cell.
 14. A method for increasing the transduction efficiency and cytosolic delivery of an independent polypeptide cargo in a population of target eukaryotic cells, said method comprising contacting said target eukaryotic cells with and-said independent polypeptide cargo and a concentration of a synthetic peptide sufficient to increase the percentage or proportion of the population of target eukaryotic cells into which the independent polypeptide is delivered across the plasma membrane, as compared to in the absence of said synthetic peptide, wherein said synthetic peptide: (a) comprises an endosome leakage domain (ELD) operably linked to a cell penetrating domain (CPD), wherein said ELD is an endosomolytic peptide which is, or is derived from: a linear cationic alpha-helical antimicrobial peptide; a Cecropin-A/Melittin hybrid (CM series) peptide; pH-dependent membrane active peptide (PAMP); a peptide amphiphile; a peptide derived from the N terminus of the HA2 subunit of influenza hemagglutinin (HA); CM18; Diphtheria toxin T domain (DT); GALA; PEA; INF-7; LAH4; HGP; H5WYG; HA2; EB1; VSVG; Pseudomonas toxin; melittin; KALA; JST-1; C(LLKK)₃C; or G(LLKK)₃G; (b) is not covalently bound to said independent polypeptide cargo; (c) has an overall length of between 20 and 100 amino acid residues; (d) has a net charge of at least +6 at physiological pH; and (e) is soluble in aqueous solution at physiological pH, wherein said CPD enables delivery of said synthetic peptide across the plasma membrane, and said ELD enables escape of endosomally trapped independent polypeptide cargo to the cytosol of the target eukaryotic cells, thereby increasing the transduction efficiency and cytosolic delivery of the independent polypeptide cargo in the population of target eukaryotic cells.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein said CPD is, or is derived from: a cell-penetrating peptide or the protein transduction domain from a cell-penetrating peptide; TAT; PTD4; Penetratin (Antennapedia); pVEC; M918; Pep-1; Pep-2; Xentry; arginine stretch; transportan; SynB1; or SynB3.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein said synthetic peptide further comprises a histidine-rich domain consisting of a stretch of at least 3 amino acids comprising at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, or at least 90% histidine residues; and/or comprises at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, or at least 6 consecutive histidine residues.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein said independent polypeptide cargo is a transcription factor, a nuclease, a cytokine, a hormone, a growth factor, or an antibody.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said transcription factor is: HOXB4, NUP98-HOXA9, Oct.¾, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc, MyoD, Pdx1, Ngn3, MafA, Blimp-1, Eomes, T-bet, FOXO3A, NF-YA, SALL4, ISL1, FoxA1, Nanog, Esrrb, Lin28, HIF1-alpha, Hlf, Runx1t1, Pbx1, Lmo2, Zfp37, Prdm5, or Bcl-6.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein said nuclease is an RNA-guided endonuclease, a CRISPR endonuclease, a type I CRISPR endonuclease, a type II CRISPR endonuclease, a type III CRISPR endonuclease, a type IV CRISPR endonuclease, a type V CRISPR endonuclease, a type VI CRISPR endonuclease, CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9), Cpf1, a zinc-finger nuclease (ZFNs), a Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), a homing endonuclease, or a meganuclease.
 20. A method for increasing the transduction efficiency and cytosolic delivery of an independent polypeptide cargo in a population of target eukaryotic cells, said method comprising contacting said target eukaryotic cell with a synthetic peptide and said independent polypeptide cargo and a concentration of a synthetic peptide sufficient to increase the percentage or proportion of the population of target eukaryotic cells into which the independent polypeptide is delivered across the plasma membrane, as compared to in the absence of said synthetic peptide, which is not covalently bound to said synthetic peptide, wherein said synthetic peptide comprises an endosome leakage domain (ELD) operably linked to a cell penetrating domain, or an ELD operably linked to a CPD and a histidine-rich domain, wherein: (a) said ELD comprises the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-15, 63, or 64; (b) said CPD comprises the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs: 16-27 or 65; and (c) said histidine-rich domain comprises at least two consecutive histidine residues, thereby increasing the transduction efficiency and cytosolic delivery of the independent polypeptide cargo in the population of target eukaryotic cells. 